Lincoln Christian University to dissolve at the end of 2023-24 school year
Ozark Christian College to move Lincoln Seminary to Joplin Missouri in 2024

Statement from OCC President Matt Proctor

[October 11, 2023] 

Second Timothy 4 rings with both sadness and hope. After a long and fruitful ministry, Paul—now a death row prisoner—is saying goodbye, “The time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” But before he leaves, Paul passes the leadership baton to Timothy, “I give you this charge: preach the Word!” As Joshua followed Moses, as Elisha followed Elijah, so Timothy will carry Paul’s ministry into the next generation. “God buries his workmen,” wrote Charles Wesley, “but carries on his work.” Timothy preached for the next 30 years, and in the midst of sadness, there was hope.

This feels like a 2 Timothy 4 moment. After a long and fruitful ministry, Lincoln Christian University is saying goodbye, and we at Ozark grieve her departure. We know well LCU’s great kingdom impact—the thousands of “Lincoln leaders” sent into the harvest fields—and we give thanks for how well our sister school “fought the good fight.” But before LCU leaves, a baton is passed to OCC. Lincoln began when Earl Hargrove’s famous sermon cast a vision to the Illinois churches, “The preachers are coming!” Since 1942, that same vision has guided Ozark, and as we now adopt Lincoln’s seminary, we carry on that work. The preachers are still coming, and in the midst of sadness, there is hope.

When President McCormick first approached us at OCC, the connections between the two schools were clear: similar missions, similar constituencies, shared HLC accreditation, shared Restoration Movement heritage. The OCC leadership team—President Matt Proctor and Executive Vice Presidents Chad Ragsdale, Damien Spikereit, and Jim Dalrymple—are all Lincoln seminary alumni and former Illinois preachers. At least eleven of our current professors are Lincoln alumni, as well as recently retired stalwarts like Dr. Mark Scott, Dr. Gary Zustiak, Dr. Terry Bowland, and Dr. Woody Wilkinson. These connections, along with OCC’s financial and enrollment health, suggested the conversation might be fruitful.

When we spoke, President McCormick shared the story of Lincoln’s most recent chapter. In the fall of 2019, among other challenges, they faced an overwhelming $9 million debt. President McCormick and his team went to work, and in February 2022, they announced significant changes to focus the college tightly on ministry preparation and debt elimination. Since then—through the sale of campus property, hard-but-necessary budgeting decisions, and the generous support of their faithful donors—they have slashed the debt to $3.1 million. By the end of the 2023-24 academic year, it should be at $2.6 million. When they cease academic operations May 31, 2024, Lincoln Christian University will work to finish paying the remaining amount, but rather than face academic closure under a massive, all-assets-swallowing debt, the Lincoln leadership has instead preserved something of great value to pass on to future generations.

Thus, as the conversation continued, both schools—including the respective boards—prayerfully decided to enter into a more formal kingdom partnership, a “passing of the baton.” As LCU President McCormick shared, on June 1, 2024, Lincoln Christian Seminary will transfer to Ozark Christian College, changing its name to Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College, along with LCU’s $3.8 million student scholarship endowment.

Such an announcement naturally raises several questions, which I will try to answer below. While the information overlaps with what LCU President McCormick shared, I often tell my students, “Repetition is the key to learning.” At the risk of repetition, I share the following in the hope of clear communication:

What exactly is involved with OCC embedding Lincoln Seminary as part of our college?

Pending approval from the accrediting bodies—the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)—OCC will offer in fall 2024 some of the Lincoln curriculum: namely, the MA in Ministry, the MA in Biblical Studies, the MA in Bible and Theology, and the Master of Divinity degree.

Pending approval, all current LCU students in those programs will be able to continue at Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College and are automatically accepted. For more information, email our Director of Graduate Studies Chrissy King at [e-mail].

For students in the graduate degrees NOT offered by Lincoln Seminary at OCC, LCU is making teach-out arrangements with other educational partners.

For graduate students that continue with Lincoln Seminary at OCC, we are guaranteeing “no loss”: no raise in tuition and no additional time to complete their degree than at LCU.

While we cannot make that guarantee to current LCU undergraduate students, we are working on a transfer agreement for LCU undergrads that guarantees all their LCU credits will transfer to OCC. For more information, email our Admissions Department at [e-mail].

Where will Lincoln Seminary’s operations live?

Through May 31, 2024, Lincoln Christian Seminary will continue to operate in Lincoln, Illinois, and online as part of Lincoln Christian University. Students may still enroll for spring 2024 classes at lincolnchristian.edu.

Beginning June 1, 2024, pending accreditors’ approval, Lincoln Seminary will begin operating on OCC’s campus in Joplin, Missouri, as well as online. OCC will not be operating an Illinois campus and, with a few possible exceptions, will not be hiring LCU’s Illinois personnel.

What are the reasons for Ozark adding a seminary?

• Last academic year, Ozark added a graduate studies program, beginning with one degree—the MA in Christian Ministry. For those with a secular bachelor’s degree, we wanted to offer graduate level Bible and ministry education, and we had a strong response, as over 80 students enrolled the first year. Over the next six years, as the program grew and more degrees were added, Ozark’s goal was for the graduate studies program to become a full-fledged seminary.

• “Seminary” is the label most commonly used for an institution offering multiple graduate level Bible and ministry degrees. Like a medical school or law school, a seminary is a specialized, graduate level school that focuses on preparing people for a particular vocation—in this case, ministry.

• Ozark Christian College remains a single-focus institution, and while our primary business is still teaching undergraduates, a seminary allows us to do at a graduate level what we’ve been doing since 1942—training men and women for Christian service.

• The addition of Lincoln’s seminary, then, is simply an opportunity to do more quickly what we were already planning to do.

What are the advantages to Ozark embedding Lincoln’s seminary instead of building its own?

Trust. Since 1952, Lincoln’s seminary has been a trusted name in the Restoration Movement and beyond for graduate level ministry preparation. By adding Lincoln’s seminary, we are connecting with a broad pool of prospective students familiar with and warm toward the Lincoln name.

Accreditation. Lincoln’s seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), the standard accrediting body for seminaries. OCC’s current graduate studies program—with one master’s degree—is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). As we added more degrees in the future, our plan was to enter the six-year process of pursuing ATS accreditation. By adding Lincoln’s seminary, we anticipate—pending approval—that Lincoln’s ATS accreditation will accompany it. This fast forwards our graduate program significantly, setting us up to serve more students more quickly and make a larger kingdom impact.

Endowment. Lincoln has also agreed to send their $3.8 million student scholarship endowment to accompany the seminary. This, of course, gives Ozark a greater opportunity to bless students financially as they prepare for ministry.

Students. By adding Lincoln’s seminary, we are also able to immediately serve more students as their current students (in the programs we’ll continue) continue their studies at OCC.

Why is Ozark keeping the Lincoln name on the seminary?

Honor. We are grateful for Lincoln’s long legacy of kingdom service, and when a seminary becomes part of a larger institution, it is not uncommon to honor this legacy by retaining in some form the name. (When B.H. Carroll Theological Institute merged in February 2023 with East Texas Baptist University, its name was retained at the B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University.)

Gratitude. We recognize Lincoln’s significant financial contribution to Ozark’s ongoing graduate studies as they send their $3.8 million endowment to OCC, and it is not uncommon to express gratitude to a benefactor with a school’s name. (Liberty University’s seminary is named the Rawlings School of Divinity to recognize a $12 million gift by the Rawlings family.)

Connection. Last year alone, almost 250 churches and over 1,000 individuals gave $1.9 million to support the work of Lincoln Christian University. As LCU closes their academic operations, we hope this name might open a door to those donors who want to continue supporting biblical higher education and the work of preparing men and women for ministry.

What’s next?

There are still many conversations to come and more decisions to make on the part of both colleges. We both have multiple constituencies—students, employees, alumni, individual donors, supporting churches, accrediting bodies—so the conversations and decisions ahead will take time.

We both will share information in as clear and timely a manner as possible. Watch Ozark’s website and social media for updates in the coming months.

How can we pray?

Pray for God’s comfort. Lincoln Christian University has dozens of employees, scores of students, thousands of alumni, and tens of thousands of supporters who will grieve the loss of a beloved and life-changing place. Please ask “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” to minister to them in the midst of their sorrow. (2 Cor 1:3)

Pray for God’s provision. While OCC is acquiring Lincoln’s seminary, Lincoln Christian University as an organization remains, with a $3.1 million debt. They remain committed to aggressively eliminating this debt, so please pray that “God will richly supply” all their needs. (Phil 4:19)

Pray for God’s wisdom. As President McCormick shared, conversations remain ongoing about other possibilities between the two schools. Please ask the Lord to give us his guidance and wisdom. (Jam 1:5)

Pray for God’s strength. OCC’s new Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Michael DeFazio and his team have a big task ahead as they absorb Lincoln’s seminary and prepare to serve Lincoln’s students. Please ask for “Christ’s mighty power” to work within them. (Col 1:29)
 

[Matt Proctor]