Evangelical Christian Publishers Association

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade association whose member companies are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide.[1]

ECPA was cofounded by Hugh Revell Barbour and his brother Bill through a partnership with Christian publishers[2] and has operated since 1974,[3] with what the organization describes as a focus on "building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry".[4]

Since 1978, ECPA has presented the annual Christian Book Awards (formerly Gold Medallion Book Awards) in several categories, including Christian Book of the Year.[5][6][7] ECPA also presents the annual Christy Awards for Christian Fiction,[8] the Top Shelf Awards recognizing book design excellence,[9] and the industry's Milestone Sales Awards.

In 2021, ECPA created a Diversity & Inclusion Standing Committee and hired Jeff Crosby as president and CEO to succeed Stan Jantz.[8][10]

Programs and services ECPA provides include Christian bestseller lists,[11][12] and a weekly news publication, Rush to Press, that recaps industry news.

  1. ^ "ECPA Member Directory - ECPA". www.ecpa.org. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (May 10, 2023). "Hugh Revell Barbour, Innovative Christian Publisher, Dies at 93". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  3. ^ Merritt, Jonathan (August 28, 2017). "The rise and fall of the Christian bookstore". The Week. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  4. ^ "About ECPA". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  5. ^ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (May 6, 2021). "'Be the Bridge' Is ECPA Christian Book of the Year". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  6. ^ Charles, Ron (May 5, 2015). "Rick Warren's weight-loss plan named Christian Book of the Year". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  7. ^ Brewer, Robert Lee, ed. (2014). 2015 Writer's Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published. Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 978-1599638607.
  8. ^ a b Grossman, Cathy Lynn (April 28, 2021). "Jeff Crosby Named to Lead ECPA". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "Top Shelf Book Cover Award Winners Announced". Publishers Weekly. October 20, 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. ^ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (July 13, 2021). "Stan Jantz Reflects on Leading ECPA". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. ^ Sun, Eryn (30 December 2011). "Bestselling Christian Books of 2011: Burpo's 'Heaven is for Real,' Chan's 'Crazy Love'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. ^ Shellnutt, Kate (March 8, 2017). "Farewell, Jesus Junk? Christian Retail Finds a Deeper Purpose". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.