International Jacques Ellul Society -  IJES (English)

an association of scholars and friends

The IJES links together scholars and friends of various specializations, vocations, backgrounds, and nations, who share a common interest in the legacy of Jacques Ellul (1912-94), long time professor at the University of Bordeaux.  Our three objectives are (1) to preserve and disseminate his literary and intellectual heritage, (2) to extend his penetrating social critique, especially concerning technology, and (3) to extend his theological and ethical research with its special emphases on hope and freedom.

The IJES is the English-language sister-society of the French-language Association Internationale Jacques Ellul.

preserving a legacy

Jacques Ellul published more than fifty books and nearly a thousand articles and reviews.  Our mission is to preserve and make broadly available this great legacy by

(1) completing the publication of Ellul's work in French (several works remain),

(2) completing the English translation of his work and encouraging translations in other languages,

(3) republishing (in electronic as well as print formats) works that are no longer available,

(4) publishing a critical edition of Ellul's complete works in both French and English,

(5) maintaining a current, comprehensive bibliography of works by and about Ellul,

(6) organizing and making available the audio and video recordings of Ellul's lectures and interviews,

(7) making available an accurate biography of Ellul.

extending a critique

Jacques Ellul is best known around the world for his penetrating critique of "la technique"---of the character and impact of technology on our world. The forces and institutions which shape 21st century life and which pose the greatest challenges to the health and future of humanity and nature were Ellul's critical interest.  Our mission is to encourage continued research and critical thought in this tradition, with a special focus on technology but also including politics, economics, globalization, education, art, language, communication, religion, and popular culture. The IJES is not an antiquarian society interested only in a reverent inspection of Jacques Ellul's works;  it is, in the spirit of Ellul himself, a movement to encourage the extension of a serious critique of technological civilization.


researching a hope

Jacques Ellul was not just a social critic but a theologian and activist in church and community.  Because of his profound faith in the "Wholly Other" breaking into human history, he refused to become a pessimist about the predominantly negative social trends he studied.  He insisted that he was above all a man of hope and freedom and searched for signs of hope in Holy Scripture and in history.  Our mission is to encourage continued theological and ethical research on hope and freedom, with a special focus on the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.

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Join the IJES

Anyone and everyone is welcome to become an IJES member---on two conditions:

(1) agreement with the society's statement of purpose

(2) payment of the annual membership dues

To become an IJES member (and receive the Ellul Forum<) anywhere in the world, submit your payment of the annual dues ($20 US) in one of two ways (be sure to note your complete address and the purpose of your payment):

(1) Send a check or money order (e.g. international postal money order) to "IJES", P.O. Box 5365, Berkeley CA 94705 USA. Payment must be in U.S. funds.

(2) Pay your dues electronically to "IJES@ellul.org" at www.paypal.com.

Contact the IJES

e-mail: IJES@ellul.org

post:  IJES, P.O. Box 5365, Berkeley CA 94705

Support the IJES

The major publication projects which the IJES is undertaking require substantial funding.  The IJES pursues such funding from charitable foundations, grant-making organizations, and publishers, but this is a long and unpredictable process.  However, with the generous support of IJES members and friends, we can achieve a great deal together.  Please contact us by e-mail or letter if you would like more detailed information on our budget, plans, and giving opportunities. The IJES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.  All gifts are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.   

IJES Activities

Please forward any news or announcements relevant to the members and friends of the IJES.   We want to do whatever we can to promote the discussion of Jacques Ellul and the extension of his critical interests.

We encourage the formation of study groups and sections of scholarly societies devoted to Ellul studies.

IJES Leadership

The International Jacques Ellul Society and L'Association Internationale Jacques Ellul have been founded by a group of long-time students, scholars, and friends of Jacques Ellul, with the counsel and support of Jean, Yves, and Dominique Ellul, and as a French-American collaboration.  

Board of Directors

Mark Baker, Associate Professor of Mission & Theology, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno CA

Patrick Chastenet, Professor of Political Science, University of Poitiers, France

Clifford Christians, Professor of Communications, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana IL

Dell DeChant, Professor of Religious Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa FL

Darrell Fasching (Vice-President), Professor of Religious Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa FL

David Gill (President), Berkeley CA

Andrew Goddard, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, UK

Joyce Hanks, Professor of French, University of Scranton, Scranton PA

Virginia W. Landgraf, Analyst, American Theological Library Association, Chicago IL

Randal Marlin, Adjunct Research Professor of Philosophy, Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada

Carl Mitcham, Professor of Liberal Arts, Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO

Ken Morris (Secretary-Treasurer), Attorney-at-Law, Boulder CO

Langdon Winner, Professor of Political Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY