The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content.

Mission

ECPA's mission is to equip our members so they can more effectively make the Christian message more widely known.  We accomplish our mission through member programs that advocate for our members and the industry; provide access to key data and programs that inform strategic business decisions; and offer opportunities to network and connect with industry colleagues, experts, customers and vendors.

History

In 2024, ECPA president Jeff Crosby wrote about the association's history in ECPA: An Industry on a Mission - Past, Present, Future. To request a free copy of this 96-page book, in print or digital format, contact ECPA.

ECPA was organized in 1974 by 22 publishers of Christian literature who believed they would be stronger pulling together than working entirely independently of each other. As a result, for five decades and counting, ECPA has served and strengthened the Christian publishing industry. It's remarkable how much has not changed about ECPA's mission and purpose in a world--and an industry--that has changed radically.

As a professional association, we remain steadfast in promoting excellence in all that we do.

• We remain committed to training.
• We continue to produce research.
• We consistently share information, strategies, and perspectives.
• We initiate programs to help solve common problems.
• We pool ideas and resources where doing so makes sense.

The work of ECPA is indebted to the forward-thinking achievements of these charter members:

Statement of Faith  

The content produced by ECPA’s publishing members must not conflict with the Association’s Statement of Faith.

The Statement of Faith of the Association is as follows:

I. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
II. We believe there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
III. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
IV. We believe that for the salvation of the lost and sinful, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
V. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
VI. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
VII. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

(This Statement of Faith is essentially identical to that of the National Association of Evangelicals.)