Linda Bond (born 22 June 1946) is a former

General of the Salvation Army General is the title of the international leader and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Salvation Army, a Christian denomination with extensive charitable social services that gives quasi-military rank to its ministers (who are therefore know ...

; she was the 19th person to hold the position. She was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. After international service and various promotions, she held the post of territorial commander of the Australian Eastern Territory from 2008. On 31 January 2011, Bond was elected by the High Council to be the next General of the Salvation Army and assumed office on 2 April 2011. She was the third woman and fourth Canadian to be elected General of the Salvation Army. General Evangeline Booth (1934–1939) and General

Eva Burrows General Eva Evelyn Burrows, AC, OF (15 September 192920 March 2015) was an Australian Salvation Army Officer and was, from 1986 to 1993, the 13th General of the Salvation Army. She served as an Officer of the Salvation Army from 1951 to her re ...

(1986–1993) were the two previous female Generals of The Salvation Army. In late 2012, she received an honorary degree from

Tyndale University College and Seminary Tyndale University is a Canadian private interdenominational evangelical Christian university in Toronto, Ontario, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations.CfAbout Tyn ...

. On 13 June 2013 she unexpectedly announced her retirement with immediate effect.

Work in The Salvation Army

Bond was commanding officer of the Kitchener corps, before serving at the college for officer training in St John's, Newfoundland, as assistant training principal, divisional secretary of the Maritime division and divisional commander of the same division. In 1995 she was appointed to international headquarters in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

as under secretary for personnel. She remained in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, transferring to the UK territory as divisional commander, Central North division, in 1998. A return to Canada came just over a year later, when she was appointed as chief secretary, Canada and Bermuda territory. In July 2002 she was appointed to the USA Western territory, where she served as territorial commander and territorial president of women's ministries. In August 2004, Bond submitted her resignation from Army officership for personal reasons. General John Larsson accepted her resignation with regret and acknowledged her outstanding contributions during her officership.http://www.usawest.org/usw/www_newfrontierpub.nsf/vw_print/5BE1E138DF134B7588256F030075AAEB?openDocument In 2008 she became territorial commander of the Australia Eastern territory. She was elected to The Salvation Army's most senior office, General, in January 2011 and assumed the office on 2 April 2011. Bond held the Office of General until her unexpected and immediate retirement on 13 June 2013.

Appointments

Retirement

After holding the Office of the General of The Salvation Army for more than two years and two months, Bond unexpectedly announced her retirement on 13 June 2013. Bond was an active Salvation Army officer for 44 years. The

High Council of The Salvation Army The High Council of The Salvation Army elects a new General in the event of a vacancy or prior to the retirement of the existing office holder. It can also remove a General who can no longer fulfill their duties. It is made up of the Chief of th ...

convened on 29 July 2013 to elect a new General, with

André Cox General André Cox (born 12 July 1954) is the former chief executive officer (CEO) and 20th General of The Salvation Army. He was commissioned as an Officer in The Salvation Army on 25 May 1979. He was elected to the position of General by the ...

being elected as the 20th General of The Salvation Army. As of 2022, she is one of five surviving Generals.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bond, Linda Salvation Army officers Living people Canadian Salvationists 1946 births