GBHEM Mourns the Death of Board Member Vivian Bull

Published On: August 31, 2022

Nashville, TN, August 31, 2022 – It is with great sadness that the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry announces the death of board member Vivian Bull.

Bull had been a member of the GBHEM Investment Committee since 1988 and chaired the committee for the last several years. In addition to her board membership, she also served the University Senate for two terms and assisted with many educational reviews. Bull received her doctorate from New York University and her bachelor’s degree from Albion College. Bull served as 18th president of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon from 1992 to 2005 and is the only woman to serve in this capacity at the institution. 

Rev. Dr. Greg Bergquist general secretary of GBHEM stated, “I celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Vivian Bull. She had a deep love of both the church and academy, promoting this historic Wesleyan relationship as a fundamental expression of uniting knowledge and vital piety for the transformation of the world.”

President of the GBHEM Board, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball added, “Dr. Vivian Bull was an exceptional person with great wisdom who valued all God’s people. She was a patient educator who helped people to see beyond the present, to see possibility. GBHEM Board members will remember Vivian for all these things, as well as, for her laughter, smile, enthusiasm, and her valuable insights in regard to global education, leadership development, and administrative questions.”

About GBHEM

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is the ministry of learning and leadership of The United Methodist Church, preparing elders, deacons, laity and licensed local pastors for their roles in the Church and supporting more than 1,100 Methodist-related educational institutions worldwide. In addition to serving Christians around the world with intellectual engagement and spiritual and leadership formation, GBHEM helps lay and clergy leaders discover, claim and flourish in God’s ministry and mission for the Church, the academy, and the world. For more information, visit www.gbhem.org.

Related Posts

  • Scholarships Empower Graduates to Serve Communities, Answer Calls to Leadership
    Published On: May 28, 2026

    More than 470 scholarship recipients supported by The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) reached a major milestone this spring, earning degrees across disciplines ranging from theology and education to finance and science.

  • Grants Announced to Address Food Insecurity at United Methodist-Related Schools
    Published On: May 20, 2026

    As students face mounting financial pressures from cuts in student support programs on U.S. university campuses, the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries will offer campus food and hygiene insecurity grants for United Methodist-related colleges to help provide food and essential supplies to their students.

  • Monday Reflections: Truth and Peace
    Published On: May 18, 2026

    As many who speak truth to power, I often wonder, where did their courage come from? On a more personal note, I ask myself, if I needed this much courage, where would I find the strength to have it?