About Free Priests Press

Free Priests Press is the publishing imprint of FCM. With a long history of publishing through member writings, blogs, and newsletters, FCM is now proud to publish academic, theological, and other ministry focused books under the Free Priests Press brand.

Why the name “Free Priests”? The name refers to FCM’s early origins and the effort by Roman Catholic Priests to advocate for less restrictive orders during the development of Vatican II. Many early FCM members know our original name was the “Society of Priests for a Free Ministry.” Now, we have the privilege of an ecumenical membership with spiritual and religious connections across the spectrum, however, we thought a nod to our early days was appropriate for this major initiative.

What We’re Looking For

Manuscripts must fit the following:

• Academic Theology

• Ministerial Writing

• Devotional and Inspirational

Submission Deadlines

All submissions must include the full manuscript (35k-100k words). We accept submissions on a rolling basis.

Themes and Core Values

Manuscripts must abide by our values:

• Belonging: Fostering a welcoming community for all spiritual seekers, regardless of background.

• Compassion: Rooted in Christ-inspired ministry and care for others.

• Empowerment: Supporting, nurturing, and commissioning individuals for ministry, including support for those with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.

• Equity: Promoting equality and actively opposing sexism, racism, poverty, ageism, heterosexism, homophobia, clericalism, environmental destruction, nationalism, and all forms, beliefs, systems, as well as actions that divide and subjugate people.

• Mindful Living: Encouraging a grounded, spiritual life.

Submission Requirements

• Submit written work in .docx or Google Docs format. Please do not send PDFs.

• Include a title, your name, and a brief bio (up to 100 words, written in third person).

• Previously published work may be considered; please include original publication details.

How to Submit

Email your submission to freepriests@fedcm.org with the subject line:
Submission – [Your Name] – [Title of Piece]

Compensation

Profits are distributed between the author and FCM. Authors receive a publishing agreement which breaks down the contract and distribution.

What We Do Not Accept

• Proselytizing or exclusionary theology

• Hate speech, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ableism

• AI-generated submissions without meaningful human authorship or editing

Editorial Review

All submissions are reviewed by the Free Priests Press Editorial Committee. We reserve the right to make minor edits for clarity, grammar, and formatting, or to suggest the author make major edits to content for clarity and flow.

The Free Priests Press Editorial Committee reserves the right to accept or respectfully decline submissions based on their discretion.