Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Millard Fuller

Millard Fuller, who with his wife Linda was founder of Habitat for Humanity International, died on February 2nd. He was 74. He was a member of the denomination Christian Church, Disciples, and his charitable organization grew out of his search for what he called the "economics of Jesus" and the "theology of the hammer". One of his major influences, a verse he would quote all his life, was Exodus 22:25. As a result Habitat has built something like 200,000 houses for poor around the world.

It was, unfortunately, not entirely rosy; he was fired a couple years back due to sexual harassment allegations (which were investigated but inconclusively), not the first that were made against him. According to Fuller and his wife (and his friend Jimmy Carter), this was just due to the fact that he was raised a 'hugger', and therefore sometimes failed to remember that others were not so comfortable with it.

Whatever may be the case in that regard, Fuller's organization has been quite a force for good in the lives both of those who have been sheltered by it and those who have contributed to building that shelter. We need more organizations like this.