diff --git a/python_anywhere_website/bible/admin.py b/python_anywhere_website/bible/admin.py
index 7346c2b..0054c39 100644
--- a/python_anywhere_website/bible/admin.py
+++ b/python_anywhere_website/bible/admin.py
@@ -1,5 +1,54 @@
-from django.contrib import admin
+from django.contrib import admin, messages
+from django.core.management import call_command
 from .models import BibleBook, BibleVerse
+import threading
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _run_import_kjv(caller_name=None):
+    """
+    Helper that runs the management command. Intended to run in a background thread.
+    """
+    try:
+        logger.info("Admin-initiated KJV import started (user=%s)", caller_name)
+        # Always call with clear=True to ensure a clean import (per requirements)
+        call_command('import_kjv', clear=True)
+        logger.info("Admin-initiated KJV import completed (user=%s)", caller_name)
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception("Admin-initiated KJV import failed (user=%s)", caller_name)
+
+
+def import_kjv_action(modeladmin, request, queryset):
+    """
+    Admin action to start the KJV import in a background thread.
+    - Visible in the actions dropdown on the BibleBook changelist.
+    - Uses standard admin permissions (requires change permission).
+    - Starts the import in a daemon thread and returns immediately.
+    """
+    # Limit to staff users as a safety check (admin actions normally require appropriate perms)
+    if not request.user.is_staff:
+        modeladmin.message_user(request, "Only staff users may run the KJV import.", level=messages.ERROR)
+        return
+
+    caller = getattr(request.user, 'username', str(request.user))
+    try:
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=_run_import_kjv, args=(caller,), daemon=True)
+        thread.start()
+        modeladmin.message_user(
+            request,
+            "KJV import has been started in the background. Check the server logs for progress and errors.",
+            level=messages.INFO,
+        )
+    except Exception as exc:
+        logger.exception("Failed to start KJV import thread (user=%s)", caller)
+        modeladmin.message_user(request, f"Failed to start import: {exc}", level=messages.ERROR)
+
+
+# Action metadata for admin UI
+import_kjv_action.short_description = "Import KJV Bible"
+import_kjv_action.allowed_permissions = ('change',)
 
 
 @admin.register(BibleBook)
@@ -10,6 +59,9 @@ class BibleBookAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
     prepopulated_fields = {'slug': ('name',)}
     ordering = ['order']
 
+    # Register the import action on the changelist actions dropdown
+    actions = [import_kjv_action]
+
 
 @admin.register(BibleVerse)
 class BibleVerseAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
diff --git a/python_anywhere_website/bible/tests.py b/python_anywhere_website/bible/tests.py
index 5d1bbf7..80a1390 100644
--- a/python_anywhere_website/bible/tests.py
+++ b/python_anywhere_website/bible/tests.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
-from django.test import TestCase, Client
+from django.test import TestCase, Client, RequestFactory
 from django.urls import reverse
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.contrib.messages.storage.fallback import FallbackStorage
 from bible.models import BibleBook, BibleVerse
 from bible.gutenberg_parser import parse_gutenberg_kjv, BOOK_INFO
+from bible.admin import import_kjv_action, BibleBookAdmin
 import tempfile
 import os
 
@@ -351,3 +354,80 @@ def test_api_rate_limit_headers(self):
         self.assertIn('X-RateLimit-Remaining', response)
         self.assertEqual(response['X-RateLimit-Limit'], '100')
 
+
+class AdminActionTest(TestCase):
+    """Tests for admin actions."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user_staff = User.objects.create_user(
+            username='staffuser',
+            password='testpass',
+            is_staff=True
+        )
+        self.user_nonstaff = User.objects.create_user(
+            username='normaluser',
+            password='testpass',
+            is_staff=False
+        )
+        self.book = BibleBook.objects.create(
+            name='John',
+            slug='john',
+            order=43,
+            testament='NT',
+            chapters=21
+        )
+        self.admin = BibleBookAdmin(BibleBook, None)
+
+    def test_import_kjv_action_requires_staff(self):
+        """Test that non-staff users cannot run the import action."""
+        factory = RequestFactory()
+        request = factory.post('/admin/bible/biblebook/')
+        request.user = self.user_nonstaff
+        
+        # Add message support to request
+        setattr(request, 'session', {})
+        messages = FallbackStorage(request)
+        setattr(request, '_messages', messages)
+
+        # Run the action
+        queryset = BibleBook.objects.all()
+        import_kjv_action(self.admin, request, queryset)
+
+        # Check that an error message was sent
+        message_list = list(messages)
+        self.assertEqual(len(message_list), 1)
+        self.assertIn('Only staff users', str(message_list[0]))
+
+    def test_import_kjv_action_starts_thread_for_staff(self):
+        """Test that staff users can start the import action."""
+        factory = RequestFactory()
+        request = factory.post('/admin/bible/biblebook/')
+        request.user = self.user_staff
+        
+        # Add message support to request
+        setattr(request, 'session', {})
+        messages = FallbackStorage(request)
+        setattr(request, '_messages', messages)
+
+        # Run the action
+        queryset = BibleBook.objects.all()
+        import_kjv_action(self.admin, request, queryset)
+
+        # Check that a success message was sent
+        message_list = list(messages)
+        self.assertEqual(len(message_list), 1)
+        self.assertIn('started in the background', str(message_list[0]))
+
+    def test_import_kjv_action_metadata(self):
+        """Test that the action has proper metadata."""
+        self.assertEqual(import_kjv_action.short_description, "Import KJV Bible")
+        self.assertEqual(import_kjv_action.allowed_permissions, ('change',))
+
+    def test_admin_has_action_registered(self):
+        """Test that BibleBookAdmin has the import action registered."""
+        # Get the admin class
+        admin = BibleBookAdmin(BibleBook, None)
+        
+        # Check that actions includes our import action
+        self.assertIn(import_kjv_action, admin.actions)
+