Lincoln Christian College and Seminary

Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is both a four year undergraduate institution and a graduate seminary located in Lincoln, Illinois. Although it has enrolled a variety of students from various nations and backgrounds over the years, it is theologically and ecclesiastically associated with the Christian Church.

It is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.

History

Lincoln Christian College, one of the largest Bible colleges in the United States, is supported by the independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. This non-denominational fellowship of more than one million members has nearly six thousand congregations across the United States and nearly as many more worldwide. Lincoln was founded in 1944, but its religious heritage extends back to the early 19th century, to a nation-wide revival among various Protestant churches often called “the Great Revival.” From that Great Revival came a grass-roots movement among many faith groups led by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and Walter Scott. It was known as the Restoration Movement. The plea of this movement, to which Lincoln subscribes, has three emphases: (1) the authority of the Bible, (2) the unity of God’s people, and (3) the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to “go into all the world to make disciples.”

Lincoln Christian Seminary has been providing quality graduate education for leadership ministry for more than half a century. In 2001-02, in fact, the Seminary celebrated 50 years of service since its founding in 1951 under the leadership of its first dean, Enos Dowling, and its first president, Earl Hargrove. It is one of only three seminaries in the Stone-Campbell tradition associated with independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. These churches are part of a "Restoration Movement" begun in the early 19th century on the American frontier under the leadership of such men as Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell. The movement they started is based on a plea for unity among God's people by restoring the essential elements of Biblical Christianity.

Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is both a four year undergraduate institution and a graduate seminary located in Lincoln, Illinois. Although it has enrolled a variety of students from various nations and backgrounds over the years, it is theologically and ecclesiastically associated with the Christian Church.