BALTIMORE—Father Michael J.K. Fuller, a priest of the Diocese of Rockford, was elected the new General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) during the first full day of the U.S. bishops’ regular fall meeting, Nov. 16.

 

Father Fuller was appointed associate general secretary of the USCCB on Nov. 19, 2020, and has served as the interim general secretary since former general secretary Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill resigned in July amidst allegations of improper behavior. 

 

Father Fuller served as executive director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Doctrine and Canonical Affairs since August 2016 and continued to lead the secretariat while also serving as administrator of the USCCB’s pastoral offices and a member of the executive staff.

 

Prior to his service at the USCCB, Father Fuller was associate professor and chair of the Department of Spiritual Theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary from 2011 to 2016. He was also editor of the Chicago Studies Theological Journal (2012-2016), and from 2002 to 2016, he served as spiritual director and instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Diocese of Rockford, and as instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

Father Fuller holds a doctorate in sacred theology. He also holds a master of divinity, a licentiate of sacred theology and a bachelor of sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockford by Bishop Thomas G. Doran in 1997.