Bill Gothard

William W. Gothard Jr. (born November 2, 1934) is an American Christian minister, speaker, and writer, and the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), an independent fundamentalist Christian organization.<ref name="chicago-mag">Template:Cite news</ref> His conservative teachings encourage Bible memorization, large families, homeschooling, aversion to debt, familial patriarchy, the submission of wives to husbands, and modest attire.<ref name="chicago-mag"/><ref name="wapo-2014"/>

At the height of Gothard's popularity during the 1970s and 80s, his Basic Youth Conflicts seminar which became the Basic and Advanced Seminars were regularly filling auditoriums throughout the United States and beyond with attendance figures as large as ten thousand and more for a one-week seminar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In this way, he reached many in the evangelical community. Other seminars during this time included events for pastors, physicians, and legislators.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, he stepped down from IBLP after 34 women accused him of sexual harassment and molestation, with some incidents allegedly occurring when the victims were minors.<ref name="wapo-2014">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2016, Gothard and IBLP were sued by a group of alleged victims.<ref name="wapo-2016">Template:Cite news</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed in 2018, as the statute of limitations had been exceeded.<ref name="radaronline.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Stankorb">Template:Cite news</ref>

Biography

Bill Gothard received his BA in biblical studies from Wheaton College, 1957 and then his MA in Christian education in 1961.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He completed his Ph.D. in biblical studies at Louisiana Baptist University in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1961, Gothard started Campus Teams,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> an organization which changed its name to the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (IBYC) in 1974. The organization's name changed again in 1989 to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of which Gothard was the president and a board member until his resignation in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1984, Gothard founded the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), a homeschooling program with a curriculum based on the Sermon on the Mount.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gothard had many political connections with Republican political leaders, including Mike Huckabee, Sonny Perdue, and Sarah Palin. His ministry was also popular with the reality TV Duggar family and others.<ref name="wapo-2014"/> He has never married.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Teaching

Gothard's primary teaching, his "Basic Seminar", focuses on what he refers to as seven "Basic Life Principles". He teaches that these principles are universal, and that people will suffer consequences for violating them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gothard's principles are called Design, Authority, Responsibility, Suffering, Ownership, Freedom, and Success.<ref name="Basic Life Principles">Template:Cite web</ref>

The "umbrella of authority" is the idea that in order to be protected from the devil, one must have absolute obedience to those above them in the chain of authority.<ref name= "LA Times 2023" >Template:Cite news</ref>

Gothard teaches that dating is morally dangerous and that courtship is the better alternative. Gothard encourages parents to be involved in their children's courtship, and that a father should be involved in his daughter's relationships, and should at the very least have the right to say "no" when a man asks to marry his daughter. Gothard also advocates conservative dress.<ref name="wapo-2014"/> Gothard's teachings discourage dating and syncopated music, including Christian rock. He has warned that Cabbage Patch dolls are idolatrous.<ref name="chicago-mag"/>

Gothard has been the subject of much debate in Christian circles, and occasionally in mass media.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Various books and articles have challenged Gothard's teachings on legalism, law, and grace, and questioned his handling of the IBLP ministry.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Chicago Tribune, 1992">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sexual harassment allegations

On February 27, 2014, the board of directors of the Institute in Basic Life Principles placed Gothard on indefinite administrative leave while it investigated claims that he sexually harassed several female employees and volunteers.<ref name=worldMag>Template:Cite web</ref> No criminal activity was uncovered, but an investigation found that Gothard had acted in an "inappropriate manner".<ref name="worldMag" /> The claims had been publicized on the Recovering Grace website, which is a support group for former followers of Gothard's teachings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As many as 34 women who worked for Gothard have claimed that he harassed them.<ref name="wapo-2014"/> Gothard denied the allegations and admitted no wrongdoing but announced his resignation from the Institute in order "to listen to those who have ought [sic] against him".<ref name=Smith>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="wapo-2014"/>

On June 17, 2014, IBLP issued a statement,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> summarizing the investigation conducted by "outside legal counsel". They asserted that although no criminal activity was uncovered, Gothard had acted in an "inappropriate manner" and so "is not permitted to serve in any counseling, leadership, or Board role within the IBLP ministry". In July 2015, Gothard re-launched his website, including testimonials from several women.<ref name=Smith /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, Gothard and IBLP were sued by a group of alleged victims who accused him of sexual harassment and assault.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit in 2018, citing "unique complexities" with the statute of limitations, but emphasized: "We are not recanting our experiences or dismissing the incalculable damage that we believe Gothard has done."<ref name="radaronline.com"/><ref name="Stankorb"/>

Books

• Advanced Seminar Textbook. Institute in Basic Life Principles, 1986, Template:ISBN
• Basic Preparation for Engagement. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1971
• Basic Seminar Textbook. Institute in Basic Life Principles, 1979, Template:ISBN
• Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts: Research in Principles of Life. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1981, Template:ISBN
• Men's Manual, Vol. 1. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1979, Template:ISBN
• Men's Manual, Vol. 2. Institute in Basic Life Principles, 1983, Template:ISBN
• Nuestro Dios Celoso/Our Jealous God: El Amor que no me deja ir/The love that doesn't let me go. Editorial Unilit 2004, Template:ISBN
• Our Jealous God. Life Change Books, 2003. Template:ISBN
• Rebuilder's Guide. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1982. Template:ISBN
• Research in Principles of Life: Advanced Seminar Textbook. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts 1986. Template:ISBN
• Rewards of Being Reviled. Life Change Books, 2004. Template:ISBN
• Self-Acceptance. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1984. ASIN B0007270AO
• The Amazing Way. Institute in Basic Life Principles, 2010. Template:ISBN
• The Power of Crying Out. Life Change Books, 2002, Template:ISBN
• The Power of Spoken Blessings. Life Change Books, 2004. Template:ISBN
• The Sevenfold Power of First Century Churches and Homes. Life Change Books, 2000. Template:ISBN
• Why Did God Let It Happen? Institute in Basic Life Principles, 2011. Template:ISBN

External links

• Official Bill Gothard Website
• Official Bill Gothard Twitter
• Institute in Basic Life Principles
• Bill Gothard Seminars