Eastern Christian College or ECC was a co-educational, private

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

college that was located in Bel Air,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, United States. It was supported by

Christian churches and churches of Christ The group of churches known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ is a fellowship of congregations within the Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century) that have no forma ...

, which is part of the

Restoration Movement The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone–Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the United States frontier during the Second Great Awakening (179 ...

History

Eastern Christian College was established in 1946 as ''Eastern Christian Institute'' in

East Orange East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 69,612. The city was List of municipalities in ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

. It moved to its final location in Bel Air,

in 1960 and was renamed Eastern Christian College. Its history was marked by significant financial struggles. ECC merged with

Lincoln Christian University Lincoln Christian University (LCU) is a private Christian university in Lincoln, Illinois. It maintains extension sites in Normal, Illinois, metropolitan Indianapolis, Indiana, and Las Vegas, Nevada. LCU is affiliated with the Christian churches ...

in 1993 and was renamed ''Lincoln Christian College East Coast'' in an attempt to stabilize its fiscal troubles. While marginally successful, ECC ceased operations and closed in 2005. Its remaining funds, library holdings, and equipment were absorbed by

Mid-Atlantic Christian University Mid-Atlantic Christian University (MACU) is a private Christian university in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It is supported by Christian churches and churches of Christ, which is part of the Restoration Movement. MACU awards bachelor's degrees, ...

. A plurality of the active students also transferred to Mid-Atlantic Christian University.

Campus

ECC's former Bel Air,

campus was located on the Fair Meadows estate, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Academics

Eastern Christian College awarded

Bachelor's A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...

and

Associate's An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. The f ...

degrees during its operation. Its academic records are now archived at Mid-Atlantic Christian University.

References

External links

Mid-Atlantic Christian University site
{{authority control Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland Bible colleges Defunct private universities and colleges in Maryland Universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ Educational institutions established in 1946 1946 establishments in Maryland 2005 disestablishments in Maryland