Published: Feb 17, 2005 ATLANTA (AP) - Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller said Thursday he might start a new group in support of the home-building ministry that fired him as its president.
Posted on 02/17/2005 8:13:58 PM PST by TheOtherOne
Habitat for Humanity Founder May Start Group to Support Charity That Fired Him
Published: Feb 17, 2005 ATLANTA (AP) - Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller said Thursday he might start a new group in support of the home-building ministry that fired him as its president.
As negotiations continued over his future role with Habitat, Fuller said he won't let last month's firing deter him from doing "what I feel is my life's work."
"If we don't reconcile, I'm going to form an organization, not to work in competition with Habitat for Humanity but to work harmoniously to encourage support for this God-ordained ministry," he said.
Fuller said filing lawsuits or starting a rival nonprofit are not options.
The Habitat board's executive committee decided last month to fire the 70-year-old Fuller and his wife and co-founder, Linda, after a dispute over allegations that Fuller acted inappropriately with a female staff member. The charge was never substantiated and Fuller denies it.
Habitat interim CEO Paul Leonard said the group's leaders hope to reconcile with the Fullers, but the resolution likely would not involve their reinstatement.
Former President Carter, Habitat's most visible volunteer and a longtime friend of the Fullers, met with the couple shortly after the firings. Although Carter has mediated previous disputes between the founders and the Habitat board, he is not currently involved in the negotiations, Fuller said.
Fuller said that if he starts a new group it will be devoted to promoting Habitat for Humanity around the world, allowing him to continue the work he began as its president since 1976.
Leonard said he would be open to discussing Fuller's plan for a new group, although he noted there could be legal issues surrounding his use of the Habitat name.
Fuller spoke Thursday in a telephone interview from Santa Fe, N.M., where he and his wife appeared at a Habitat for Humanity affiliate.
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On the Net:
Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org
Habitat Partners: http://www.habitatpartnersunite.com
AP-ES-02-17-05 2210EST
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