After Gay Marriage Policy Reversal, Googler Resigns From World Vision Board
A World Vision board member has resigned in protest of the humanitarian organization’s reversal of the decision to hire employees in same-sex marriages.
Jacquelline Fuller, director of corporate giving for Google Inc., said in a statement to the Associated Press that she remained supportive of the organization, but she would not stay on its board.
“I am a huge fan of the work World Vision does around the world to help the poorest of the poor. However, I resigned as a board member … as I disagreed with the decision to exclude gay employees who marry,” she said.
Fuller has worked at Google.org for seven years and has served on World Vision’s board since 2012.
World Vision President Richard Stearns released a statement thanking Fuller for her service.
“The board has benefited from her perspective and her passion to serve the poor. We wish her well as she continues to address global issues of poverty and justice,” he said.
According to the AP, Steve Panton, a World Vision spokesman, said the board of directors met Wednesday and will meet within the next few days “to assess [its] past and future actions.” He said no other board members have resigned.
The organization faced major backlash last week when it announced its decision to allow employees in same-sex marriages. Two days later World Vision reversed the decision, calling it a mistake.
“The board acknowledged they made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding conduct policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the biblical covenant of marriage between a man and a woman,” the board said in a statement on March 26.
