(RNS) Donald E. Wildmon, the founder and chairman of the Mississippi-based American Family Association, has resigned after months of failing health, the conservative Christian ministry announced.
“A bite from a mosquito carrying the St. Louis encephalitis virus caused Wildmon’s illness,” the ministry said in a Wednesday (March 3) statement. “From August to November of last year Wildmon spent 121 days in the hospital and rehab.”
Wildmon, 72, also was treated for cancer on his left eye.
The retired United Methodist minister started the ministry in his dining room in 1977. It operates 180 radio stations and a monthly magazine, and now employs 175 people with a $20 million budget.
Wildmon plans to continue working at the Tupelo, Miss.-based ministry but not in a leadership role. The AFA said his son, Tim, who turns 47 on Saturday (March 6) and has worked for AFA for almost a quarter century, is expected to lead the ministry.
AFA has been active in boycotting organizations and companies that embrace policies counter to its conservative Christian views. In February, it suspended its boycott against PepsiCo, declaring it was “satisfied the company has withdrawn its major financial contributions to gay activist groups.”