Millard and Linda Fuller were immediately dismissed Jan. 31 from their jobs with Habitat for Humanity International, the worldwide Christian housing ministry they founded and led for 29 years.
The organization's executive committee charged the Fullers with being “divisive and disruptive to the organization's work” through their public comments, according to a press release.
uller told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “I devoted 29 years of my life to this-morning, noon and night-and then these people say that they can't stand any criticism.”
The Fullers and the Habitat board of directors have been in conflict for several months over a transition of leadership. Directors wanted Millard Fuller to retire as president this month when he turned 70. Fuller wanted to remain at the helm until the 200,000th house was dedicated later this year.
The issue seemed resolved in October when it was announced that Fuller would become “founder president” and serve with his wife, Linda, as ambassadors for the ministry, while daily operations would be conducted by managing director Paul Leonard.
However, board chairman Rey Ramsey, a Baltimore attorney, said in the Jan. 31 release that the board tried repeatedly to resolve differences with the Fullers confidentially, but that the Fullers publicly criticized the board's efforts.
“In every instance, the Fullers ultimately have rejected or been openly critical of any and all steps taken toward appropriate compromise,” said Ramsey. “The board must therefore fulfill its fiduciary obligation to the organization and our moral responsibility to all those who share in Habitat's mission. No issue, no person, no debate can be permitted to compromise the integrity and work of this extraordinary ministry.”
Fuller admitted to the Atlanta newspaper that he is “a hard charger” and “sometimes damages relationships.”
Associated Baptist Press