Former Obama pastor resigns from ed panel

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor has resigned from an Illinois education commission that deals with the history of slavery in America.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. of Chicago was serving a three-year term on the 15-member Amistad Commission that wasn't due to expire until 2010, the Springfield State Journal-Registered reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said Wright sent a letter of resignation in July that was filed with the secretary of state's office Friday.

The Amistad Commission was created in 2005 to promote education about the African slave trade, slavery in America and the contributions of blacks to the United States.

Wright was named to the commission in January 2007 by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Obama distanced himself from his former pastor after controversial statements made by Wright surfaced during this year's primary campaign