Jun 1975, Oren and Inez Paris, accompanied by their children and Oren's parents, veterans of the ministry, established Ecclesia Inc.
1976, the school enjoyed a strong and autonomous relationship with Youth With A Mission, "an international movement of Christians dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world."
Mar 1997, Ecclesia's Board of Governance inaugurated Oren Paris III as the new president.
Jul 2003, Ecclesia's Board of Governance named Oren Paris II as Chancellor
Mar 2004, the board confirmed the president's installation of Administrative Council members: the Academic Dean, the Assistant Dean, and four Director positions over Business and Finance, Student Services, Communications and Advancement.
2005, Ecclesia received accreditation and offers degrees both on campus and online.
Jun 2012, Founder and Chancellor, Oren Paris II, died. His wife of 56 years, Inez Paris, was installed as Chancellor the following July.
Jun 2015, marked Ecclesia's 40th anniversary.
April 2018, Oren Paris III resigns as president.
April 2018, Ecclesia's board of Governance inaugurated Dr. Randall Bell as the new president.
2017 bribery scandal
On January 4, 2017, Arkansas legislator Micah Neal pleaded guilty to conspiring to direct $600,000 in state government funds to Ecclesia College and another non-profit in exchange for $38,000 in bribes. The plea agreement also singles out the president of the college as being directly involved with the conspiracy. On March 2, 2017, former State Senator, Jon Woods, was indicted on 13 charges by a grand jury in connection to the kickback and bribery scheme. Woods is facing 11 counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of honest services mail fraud. The indictment outlined the scheme to steer General Improvement Fund money from the state legislature to projects supported through funding distributed by the Northwest Arkansas Development District. The indictment also named the president of Ecclesia College in Springdale, Oren Paris III, who is facing nine counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services mail fraud after receiving funding from GIF monies. The college is not listed in the indictment. An Alma man, Randell G. Shelton Jr., is also listed in the indictment as part of an unnamed consulting company that was used to pay and conceal the kickbacks that Woods and Neal were allegedly receiving. Both Shelton and Paris initially pleaded not guilty during arraignment hearings. Paris changed his plea to guilty on April 4, 2018 and resigned as president of Ecclesia College.
Ministries
Bibles for the Nations
Ecclesia Children's Ministries
Ecclesia Prep
Ecclesia Relief and Development
Strategic Missions For Strategic Nations
Twila Paris Productions
Accreditation
Ecclesia College receives institutional accreditation for higher education with the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The college has been accredited with ABHE since 2005. ABHE is recognized by the U. S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Ecclesia is also accredited by the Arkansas Course Transfer System which allows a student to transfer their transferable hours from Ecclesia to any college and/or University in the state of Arkansas.
