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Fred Luter and Barack Obama share historical distinctions as African Americans' first Southern Baptist Convention and U.S. presidents, respectively, but on the major political-moral issue of gay marriage they are on opposite sides - a disagreement driven by Luter's commitment to the Bible.

"I believe that nothing, nothing can be politically right if it's biblically wrong," Luter said July 10 in an interview with Florida Baptist Witness.

"The Word of God says marriage is between one man and one woman," Luter said, adding that "no president, no governor, no mayor, no politician, no individual can change that fact."

In light of the Bible's teaching on marriage, Luter said he is "totally against" Obama's support of gay marriage.

Luter sat down for a 30-minute interview with the Witness while in Tampa to preach at two Florida Baptist churches. In addition to Obama's gay marriage position, Luter talked about a congratulatory phone call from President Obama, the state of race relations in the Southern Baptist Convention, his goals as SBC president, Calvinism, and the recent death of his mother.

The Tampa events were Luter's first engagements since being elected SBC president last month, although the events were scheduled even before he decided to be a candidate for the presidency.

While Luter disagrees with Obama on gay marriage, he was quick to note that it's not the first time he has disagreed with a president and he remains committed to pray for the president and his family.

Following Obama's May announcement of his "evolved" views in favor of gay marriage, Luter said many members of his predominantly African American congregation, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, asked for his reaction.

"I told my congregation, I support our president. I pray for him, but on this same-sex marriage deal, I'm totally against it," he said. "When I said that on that Sunday morning, not everybody, to be honest with you, but the majority of our members, stood up and applauded because they've known me to be a man of the Book."

When others became aware Luter's comments to his congregation, he received emails of appreciation, "because not everybody's taking a stand on that," he said, apparently referring to other African American pastors.

"That's one of the things I have to deal with - people feel that because I'm African American I've got to agree with everything that the president says because he's African American," Luter said.

"My mind is made up and set on this issue and it doesn't make me uncomfortable" to disagree with his fellow African American president, he said.

Luter said he is willing to be a spokesman for Southern Baptists on the issues of the day with the news media, adding, "I think you cannot avoid it in this position."

President Obama called Luter two days after his election as SBC president - a call he at first suspected was a prank. He said Obama was gracious and the call "made my day."

Luter said Obama asked him, "How does it feel to be the most popular president in America?" Luter said the president greeted his wife, Elizabeth, saying, "Hello, First Lady Luter. Make sure this doesn't go to his head. OK?"

During the five-minute telephone conversation, Luter said Obama expressed a desire to meet him, although no plans were made.

Obama's call caused Luter to conclude his election "must be a big deal. I mean I didn't win an NBA championship. I didn't win the Super Bowl. I didn't win the World Series."