NASHVILLE (SBT) -- Clark Logan has resigned from the staff of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention where he has served as vice president for business and finance since Oct. 15, 2007. Executive Committee President Morris Chapman told the TEXAN that Logan had resigned July 1, though an initial report from a close friend of Logan's indicated he had been fired.

WASHINGTON (BP)—President Obama became the first chief executive to host a White House ceremony celebrating “gay pride” Monday, telling several hundred homosexual guests in the East Room that America still has what he called “old attitudes” about homosexuality but that they have “an ally and a champion” in the Oval Office.

The U.S. House of Representatives easily approved “hate” crimes protections for homosexuals and transgendered individuals April 29. The Senate is expected to take up the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act prior to leaving for their August recess.

ORLANDO (FBW)--“People are going to die tonight.”

Not quite the first words most congregations want to hear coming out of their pastor’s mouth.

But that is what David Uth said as an introduction to “Not Ashamed” — a three-service celebration of baptism at First Baptist Church in Orlando June 27-28. In all, 337 people were baptized, including 10 at FBC Orlando's Ocoee venue.

WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)-Palm Beach Atlantic University trustees June 30 voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the presidential search committee to appoint Lu Hardin, J.D. as PBA’s seventh president. President Hardin begins his term of service begins July 1.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW)—Southern Baptist Convention messengers June 23 overwhelmingly approved a motion authorizing their president, Johnny Hunt, to appoint a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work “more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW/BP)—Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt appointed 18 people—including five from Florida—to the “Great Commission Resurgence Task Force” June 24 during the morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the denomination’s annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville, Ky.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approved a resolution June 24 celebrating the election of the country’s first African American president and urging prayer on his behalf, while expressing opposition to his actions regarding unborn life and homosexuality.

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—Retired Lt. Col. Oliver North served 22 years in the Marine Corps, receiving the Silver Star for combat service during the Vietnam War, along with the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for combat wounds. President Ronald Reagan described him as “an American hero.”