For Immediate Release — June 10, 2020

ECPA responds to Racial Justice crisis with book lists, conversation, events

ECPA compiles Christian Book List on Racial Justice

TEMPE, ARIZ. — In the last 90 days the world has forever changed, yet publishing remains a crucial vehicle for reform and change in times of crisis. Stan Jantz, the president of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, recently expounded on the industry’s call to respond: “Though we may not yet know the lasting impact of this saturated moment of culture-wide lament against racial injustice — we do more clearly see the responsibility that publishing, especially Christian publishing, can and must have to inspire hope and offer tools for sustained change.”

Recently, ECPA compiled a list of Christian Books on Racial Justice recently submitted by their members. More than 140 books are on the list at ChristianBookExpo.com. Some are classics like Let Justice Roll Down by Dr. John Perkins, and some are brand new, such as Is Christianity a White Man’s Religion?: How the Bible Is Good News for People of Color by Dr. Antipas Harris.

“Some of the titles are inspiring, while others are challenging,” continues Jantz, “yet all offer important perspectives on the things we need to do as well as the people we want to become.” ECPA will follow this list with additional Christian book lists by Authors of Color — which will launch in the coming weeks.

ECPA is also presenting a special webcast this week to ask and answer the question: How can publishers speak to the issue of racial justice? A panel of leading voices from the Christian publishing and writing community will offer their perspectives on a way forward to a place of hope, healing, and change – featuring LaDonna Boyd, President & CEO, R.H. Boyd Publishing Corp.; Trillia Newbell, author of several books and acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers; Skot Welch, Founder and President, Global Bridgebuilders; and Jeff Wright, President & CEO, Urban Ministries, Inc. The webinar is part of ECPA’s free Virtual Summit Series for members and will be held this Thursday at 10 am central.

This Fall, ECPA will conduct PubU Online, a series of training webinars for publishing practitioners that will be held throughout the month of September. The program will include a new track of sessions devoted to Diversity & Inclusion, led by Dr. Theon Hill, race scholar and professor of communications at Wheaton College. Dr. Hill will also deliver the opening webcast session on August 31. Other tracks include Marketing, Editorial, and Data-Delivery-Workflow — as they all explore the theme, “Publishing in a Time of Crisis.” Additional details on the PubU Online program will be announced soon.

Additional industry resources to advance racial justice and diversity is available on the ECPA website at ECPA.org/page/DIVERSITY. Resources include:

Industry White Papers on Diversity
Consulting Services of Global Bridgebuilders
Programming at ECPA events
Emerging Leader program
Publishing in Color conferences
Christian Book Proposals .com

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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. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org ECPA.org @ECPA

Media contact: Stan Jantz, ECPA President and CEO, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998

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