GBHEM Mourns the Death of Board Member Vivian Bull
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
MARSHALL, Texas — The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund has made an “indelible footprint” on Wiley University, providing steadfast support that President Dr. Herman Felton Jr. says continues to drive student success, modernize the 151‑year‑old campus, and strengthen the institution’s long‑term stability.
Twenty years ago, a mentor saw me starting to burn out. He encouraged me to take a personal retreat. This was both renewal and challenge – could I let myself BE for just a couple of days? A part of the plan was to go to Olympic National Park, just to walk in the meadows. With no hat, no food, no extra water, and Birkenstocks on my feet, I headed into the mountains.
For the Rev. Dr. Sharad Creasman, hope shows up every day at Brevard College, often in the smallest, most human moments. “I am inspired by students’ giggles, laughter, smiles, vocational interests, questions about life, and everything in between, and their dreams about their futures."
