"Anti-gay" Barack Obama endorser Kirbyjon Caldwell denies knowing that his congregation was linked to an ex-gay program: "I was surprised and embarrassed by it. I’m embarrassed from the standpoint that I should have known."

Yesterday we informed you that Bush's "spiritual adviser" Kirbyjon Caldwell endorsed Democrat Barack Obama. We also informed you that Caldwell's got an anti-gay history: he corroborated with ex-gay congregation Metanoia Ministry.

While Caldwell's Kingdom Builders website mysteriously deleted his congregation's alliance with Metanoia, a reader sent us a screen grab.

See it and weep, after the jump.

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It may be two steps forward, one step back for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

The Democratic Senator earned praise this morning for including gay folk in his Ebenezer Baptist address this weekend. That could change, however, when homos hear that Obama snagged an endorsement from Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell, a long time spiritual adviser to President Bush:

Caldwell said Saturday that he's endorsing Obama's presidential campaign because of the senator's "character, confidence and courage."

He emphasized that his support is personal and not tied to his job as pastor of the large United Methodist church.

The pastor, however, said he has informed his congregation of his presidential choice and that Obama may even pay a visit to his church.

"I have been in contact with the Obama campaign team," he said. "I will be making visits on his behalf."

Those visits most probably won't include any gay community centers - unless it's to spread some reparative therapy. Rumor has it that Caldwell endorses anti-gay "cures" through his congregation. The website explaining his ex-gay ways, however, has mysteriously disappeared.

Mr. Bush does not object to Caldwell's endorsement, of course…