About the ACP

Our Board of Directors

The Associated Church Press is governed by a 10-person board elected by the membership at the annual convention.  The board meets twice each year, with the Executive Committee of the board meeting more frequently as needed. 

The day-to-day activities of the association are carried out by Executive Director Joe Thoma and Member Services Manager Catherine Kohn.

Publication Membership

Our most common type of membership, this is a group membership that covers your whole shop--those on staff who are writers, editors, designers, photographers, marketing and circulation managers, ad managers, webmasters, etc. This ACP membership and covers all of the following types of media:

 
 
Magazines, such as: Sojourners & Alliance Life
 
Newspapers, such as: UM Connection & Alabama Baptist
 
Newsletters, such as: HI-LITES & Seeds for the Parish 
 
News services, such as: RNS & Episcopal News Service
 
 
You must publish at least three times a year and consent to ACP's Statement of Purpose in order to fulfill the requirements of this type of membership. Dues are based on a sliding scale, according to circulation.
 
BENEFITS OF PUBLICATION MEMBERSHIP:
 Annual Convention: Where the best of our training happens, as well as fellowship and networking. As a member, your shop gets input, advance notice, updates, and member discounts.
 Regional Seminars: Between conventions we sometimes offer regional training seminars to areas that have high membership. Past seminars have focused on design, magazine production, website management, marketing and circulation basics, and fundraising.
 Awards Competition: Enter your publication's best work to see how it stacks up against "The Best of the Christian Press"; learn how to improve your product in the process. Judges' critiques and a booklet presentation of our annual winners promote the fine points of professional excellence.
 ACPwire: Our regular e-newsletter, full of member updates, job opportunities, professional resources, and association events.
 Postal Advice and Advocacy: ACP convenes the Coalition of Religious Press Associations (CRPA), whose main work is keeping postage rates affordable for U.S. religious periodical publishers. ACP belongs to the Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee in Washington, to offer input and get practical information from the U.S. Postal Service. Let our postal representatives help you!
 Directories: Get yourself listed in our online Membership Directory. Get one free hardcopy of the Membership Directory per year. Also: Publication Membership entitles you to a free copy of the "Guide to Freelancers."
 Discussion Group: Get "members only" access to ACP's online discussion board. Weigh in on important publishing matters, share tips, request leads on freelancers or vendors.
 "Mentoring Match" in which your shop or significant individual is mentor or mentored, according to skills available.
   The "Forms Forum," where members don't have to reinvent the wheel! Get templates, checklists, surveys, spreadsheets, etc. that other members have used successfully.
 Mailing Lists:  Get free use of the ACP mailing list, once per year; pay 50 percent regular rental costs thereafter.
 Press cards and a membership certificate, suitable for framing.
 
Publication Members of the ACP come in all shapes and sizes, all levels of communication, representing a very diverse cross section of Christian expression. A sampling:
A sampling of what ACP members publish:
Art, Worship & Liturgy: Reformed Worship  Worship Arts
Bible Study & Scripture: American Bible Society Record
Clergy, ministry: Clergy Journal  Journal of Pastoral Care  Ministry
Congregations: Cathedral Age  Trinity News
Crosscultural:  Noticias  Nuestra Parroquia  Missions Now
Denominational: Adventist Review  A.M.E. Review  Anglican Journal  The Banner  Church Herald  Covenant Companion  Friends Journal  The Herald  The Messenger  Presbyterians Today  Quaker Life  United Church News  United Church Observer  United Methodist Reporter  U.S. Catholic  The Word 
Ecumenical: Eccu+Link  Ecumenical Trends  Voice
Education: EDS News  Episcopal Teacher  General Seminary News  Issues In Christian Education  Southern Bulletin  
Prayer & Spirituality: Weavings  Sacred Journey  Alive Now
Regional: Canadian Adventist Messenger Central Florida Episcopalian
Social Change: Baptist Peacemaker  Fellowship  Church & Society  The Witness  Other Side  Sojourners
Theology & Culture: Context  Perspectives
Youth & Family: Pockets  Lutheran Parent  Devo'Zine  MethodX  
Women: Lutheran Woman Today  Horizons  Churchwoman 

What our members say about ACP:
 
"Since I work on a small editorial staff, membership in ACP has been especially beneficial. It allows me to connect with others in church publishing, to learn from each other's challenges, and share wisdom and give support.  It's a fabulous network that has helped me both professionally and personally."  Kate Sprutta Elliott, Editor, Seeds for the Parish
 
"Increased postal rates have us all on the ropes.  I don't know where we would be without the intervention and leadership of the ACP.  Its advocacy - as well as personal advice on how to qualify for discounts - has easily been worth the annual cost of membership."  Michelle Merten, Marketing Manager, U.S. Catholic
 
"Our participation in the Associated Church Press provides the staff of the United Methodist Reporter with an excellent opportunity to fulfill one of Jesus' most fervent prayers, that his disciples 'may all be one' (John 17:20).  Through ACP we readily encourage and learn for one another as we pursue the ministry of communications in our respective theological contexts.. Thus we build up the body of Christ among ourselves and in the churches we serve."  Cynthia B. Astle, Editor and Director of E-media, UMR Communications, Inc.
 
"The critiques and workshops annually provided by journalism professors from around the nation stimulate our staff with creative ideas and new ways to improve our weekly publication."  Bob Terry, Editor, The Alabama Baptist