NEWS STORY: Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity, Fired From Post

c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Board members of Habitat for Humanity International have fired founder and president Millard Fuller, saying “several months of differences” over alleged inappropriate conduct led to their decision. The executive committee of the board of the Americus-Ga.-based organization known for house-building efforts across the globe, announced its decision Monday (Jan. […]

c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Board members of Habitat for Humanity International have fired founder and president Millard Fuller, saying “several months of differences” over alleged inappropriate conduct led to their decision.

The executive committee of the board of the Americus-Ga.-based organization known for house-building efforts across the globe, announced its decision Monday (Jan. 31), prompting almost immediate criticism from Fuller and some of his supporters who want to see him reinstated.


Fuller, 70, said he is “saddened and dismayed” by the turn of events _ which also include the firing of his wife, Linda, a co-founder of the organization.

“This is a Christian ministry,” he said in an interview with Religion News Service. “The board members should see themselves as servants of the ministry but apparently they think of themselves as lords and masters.”

Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 150,000 houses in some 3,000 communities. It expects to build its 200,000th house in the late summer, continuing a tradition of construction using the labor of volunteers and the people who will own the homes.

The Habitat executive committee, acting on the authority of the full board, said the termination followed “divisive and disruptive” comments about the organization by the Fullers since allegations of his inappropriate behavior with a now-former female employee surfaced.

Fuller denied any wrongdoing.

“What the woman said was that I touched her on the shoulder and on the neck and on the thigh and said she had smooth skin,” he said. “I didn’t do any of that.”

A loose-knit group of volunteers called Habitat Partners launched an effort on Tuesday to encourage affiliates of the organization to ask the board to reconsider its action. The group distributed a letter calling the allegations unfounded, and started a campaign to ask the board to reinstate the Fullers to a “meaningful” role in the organization.

“Millard represents a huge asset to the work of the affiliates,” said David Snell, secretary of Habitat for Humanity of Colorado, who is spearheading the lobbying effort.


“I believe that there’s going to be an outpouring of support when the affiliates are aware of what’s happening.”

In their statement about the termination, Habitat for Humanity officials said former President Jimmy Carter, a longtime supporter of the ministry, would serve as an honorary chair of the search committee for a new president.

“President Carter, who has attempted for several months to serve as mediator, was informed of today’s decision and expressed his continuing personal friendship with the Fullers and his support of Habitat for Humanity International,” the statement reads.

Deanna Congileo, Carter’s press secretary, confirmed the contents of the statement.

Paul Leonard, Habitat’s chief executive officer since last fall, will lead the organization until a permanent successor to Fuller is found.

Habitat board chair Rey Ramsey expressed respect for the vision and service of the Fullers and sadness about their termination.

“No issue, no person, no debate can be permitted to compromise the integrity and work of this extraordinary ministry,” he said.


Fuller said he has been fielding phone calls from reporters, pastors and donors who have learned of his firing.

“Donors are calling me today saying `I’m not contributing any more money as long as you have been thrown out of Habitat,”’ he said. “I’m not encouraging that, but people are upset and they are angry and they will make their own decisions about what they’re going to do.”

Asked if reinstatement might be a possibility, Habitat spokesman Joedy Isert said Tuesday that “the executive committee’s decision was made with the full board’s authority and it was a unanimous vote of those who were present.”

He added that donors have remained committed in recent months and “we see no reason to believe this will be different.”

Fuller, nevertheless, hopes there may be a change of heart.

“I want to put Habitat in every country on Earth and I would like to continue, by the grace of God,” he said, adding that he is in good health. “I’m not interested in sitting at home and watching TV and going on trips and cruises. I want to use my life to make a difference in the world, like I’ve been doing the last 29 years through Habitat for Humanity.”

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