An organization of 81 Anglican bookstores across North America, EBA seeks "to glorify God and strengthen the Church in local communities" by increasing communication between member booksellers. The association also works to advocate for stores by being an effective voice in the book and publishing industry.

A closer look at EBA member stores and featured new titles is available online at http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org/. The web site is newly upgraded with enhanced search features.

The seeds for EBA were planted 16 years ago in St. Charles, Illinois during the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE), a gathering of businesses that serve members of primarily Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and other liturgical traditions. EBA was well represented at the most recent RBTE gathering, May 29-June 1 in St. Charles.

Nancy Marshall, co-owner of Episcopal Bookstore in Seattle, Washington, was the founder and first president of the EBA. "I started attending RBTE 16 years go. At first, I thought I was the only [Episcopal bookseller] there," said Marshall. "I soon met several others as the exhibit progressed. A few more 'trickled' into RBTE over the next few years. Eventually, a dozen of us had our first [informal] meeting in 1996," she said.

By 1997, their gathering had grown to nearly 35 stores. "We all met at RBTE again," Marshall explained. "It became apparent that Episcopal booksellers have a unique market niche and need to make their presence more widely known to publishers and others in the book trade," she said.

The association continued to grow in the late 1990s and became incorporated in May of 2002. In an effort to usher EBA out of its period of infancy, Marshall and the then-current board of directors elected Jane Pratt Reynolds, manager of The Good Bookstore in the Diocese of Rochester, as EBA's second president.

"My primary goal as president was to elect our first executive director, Henrietta Speaks," Pratt Reynolds said. "I am proud of this hiring; Henrietta, who has held this position for over three years, is doing a wonderful job and has great visions for the organization."

"EBA has reached a remarkable level of maturity over the last few years," said Speaks, who has a background in communication consulting and has worked for the Cathedral of the Advent Bookstore in Birmingham, Alabama. "We now have a searchable website that includes advertising from our [nearly 35] vendor members, who support the work and services of EBA through membership fees. The website also serves EBA by directing customers to member stores," Speaks explained.

EBA members agree that the organization has proven to be an invaluable resource to Episcopal booksellers and to the Church as a whole.

"EBA is vital to our common work as we seek to carry quality books and resources consistent with the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church," said Bernie David Lucas, deputy for communication at the Episcopal Church Center and general manager of Episcopal Books and Resources (EBaR) in New York City. "If you are an Episcopal bookstore or publisher, and are not a member of EBA, consider joining."