BILL GOTHARD

'William ("Bill") W. Gothard' (born November 2, 1934) is a notable American speaker and writer. At the age of 15, he dedicated his life to helping teenagers and their parents make what he considered wise decisions based on Christian principles, and much of his reputation comes from his efforts to fulfill that goal.
His founding of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) in 1961, his conference speaking, and his book writing have all been sources of his influence on others. Additionally, both he and his teachings have been the subject of criticism.

Contents

Biography

Teaching

Controversies and criticism

Teachings

Medical advice

Sexual misconduct

Books

See also

References

External links

Official pages

Articles about

Biography

Gothard is the third of six children born to William and Carmen Gothard^[2]. His father was the general manager of an engineering firm and later served with various ministries, including Gideons International, where he was the executive director.
When Gothard was in the 5th grade, he claims God brought him to an understanding of his need for a personal Savior through the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Shortly after beginning to believe that Jesus was a savior, he and his family joined a literalist church. At the age of 15, Bill dedicated his life to helping teenagers and their parents make decisions he saw as wise.
Gothard received his B.A., in Bible from Wheaton College in 1957 and his M.A., in Christian Education in 1961. Based on years of working with inner-city gangs, church youth groups, high school clubs, youth camps, and families in crisis, Gothard wrote his master’s thesis on a youth program that eventually led to his development of seven principles of life he believed were not optional^[3] .
In 1964, Gothard was ordained and commissioned for youth work by LaGrange Bible Church in suburban Chicago. That same year, Gothard's alma mater, Wheaton College, invited him to design and teach a course based on his work with youth. The course was given the name Basic Youth Conflicts; two hours of upper-division undergraduate and graduate credit were awarded to students completing the course. Forty-six students, youth pastors, and teachers registered for that first class. The next year 120 students enrolled in Basic Youth Conflicts.
Gothard started an organization in 1961 called Campus Teams, which in 1974 changed its name to Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts. Later, in 1989, the name changed again to Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)^[4]. Gothard is currently the president and a board member of this organization^[5].
Gothard gained popularity in the 1970's presenting the Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar (later referred to as Basic Seminars) across the United States. Attendance grew averaging between 10,000 and 20,000 attendees at each seminar. In the early 1980’s the seminar attendance began to decline. Today seminars continue to be conducted around the world and have an alumni base of more than 2.5 million.
In 1984, under Gothard’s leadership, a homeshooling program, the Advanced Training Institute of America was founded^[6].
An author of numerous books, some have been endorsed by leading Christians including Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. Charles Stanley, the late Adrian Rogers, and D. James Kennedy as well as congressmen Jim Ryun and Sam Johnson^[7].
In 2004, Gothard received his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University, a bible college that is unaccredited.
Gothard has remained unmarried and has no children.

Teaching

Gothard's teaching focuses on seven "life principles", 49 character qualities, and 49 commands that Jesus gave. He views the Bible as the word of God and teaches that while there is only one interpretation of scripture, many applications can be taken from it. However, Gothard's use and application of scripture has met with criticism. On his website he states ''"the goal of my teaching is to provide Biblical principles and concepts of life to guide people in their choices."''
Gothard discourages listening to contemporary Christian music and encourages homeschooling; IBLP publishes its own homeschool material; and, according to one follower, claims borrowing money for ''any'' reason, even a home mortgage, is wrong.^[8] According to one critic, Gothard protested against the Cabbage Patch Kids because Cabbage Patch Kids or Treasure Trolls could lead to difficulties in conceiving or giving birth to a child^[9], and has discouraged the use of contraceptives or other family planning.^[10][11]
As a part of the IBLP, Gothard organized the ''Medical Training Institute of America'' (MTIA), which claims to "train men and women to assist families in making wise decisions about health care issues."^[12] The ''Medical Training Institute of America'' is not a medical school and does not grant degrees. MTIA is run by Director Dean I. Youngberg, M.D., who first attended an IBLP seminar in 1976. Other medical doctors that support MTIA include Billy Boring, Jr., M.D. and James Leininger, M.D., both of whom are members of the board of directors.[1] Leininger is a San Antonio multimillionaire with an "ultra-conservative bent" who supports political candidates with socially conservative beliefs.^[13]
The institute publishes ''Basic Care Newsletters''. An example of its recommendations, from CARE Bulletin #7, states: "A couple who is contemplating a VBAC Vaginal Birth After Cesarean should ask the Lord to give them a specific portion of Scripture that they can claim for the birth. Both the father and the mother should memorize and meditate on this passage and use it to conquer any fear that may come during the pregnancy or delivery."^12[14]

Controversies and criticism

Teachings

Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO) is a group devoted to exposing movements the group considers cults. The PFO published criticism about Gothard in three basic areas: a view that Gothard's views are legalistic teachings and interpretations of Scripture, a belief that IBLP and its adherents exhibit a "cult-like" mentality, and concern about Gothard's application of authoritarianism within his own organization.^[15] Gothard was also accused by some of being hypocritical for not practicing what he preaches about conflict resolution,^[16] and for his "quiverfull" teachings that married believers should eschew birth control and have as many children as possible, given that Gothard himself is unmarried and childless at age 72.
The Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc (MCOI) has also claimed that Gothard's teachings are too legalistic. Don Veinot, the president of MCOI, has written that Gothard teaches he holds absolute authority in many areas of life: use of cosmetics, clothing, beards, sleep schedules, homeschooling, courtship and marriage, and even medical advice.^[17] Veinot maintains that such teachings are illustrative of what he views as a legalistic current in Gothard's ministry.
Veinot also claims in his critical book on Gothard that a Dr. Ronald Allen, Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, a conservative evangelical theological seminary, attended a Gothard seminar in 1973 and wrote of his experience that "In this seminar, I was regularly assaulted by the misuse of the Bible, particularly of the Old Testament, on a level that I have never experienced in a public ministry before that time (or since)."^[18]

Medical advice

Marty Butz, a critic of Gothard from Midwest Christian Outreach, makes the claim that, "Mr. Gothard also presents diagnoses and cures for medical problems which, in some cases, could possibly cause serious harm." ^[19] Butz offers "examples of Mr. Gothard’s advocacy of a mystical approach towards resolving health problems" and suggests that western medicine is at odds with, and more reliable than, Gothard's diagnoses.^[20]
The Institute for Biblical & Scientific Studies has stated that "Bill Gothard also pushes the evils of hospital births. One should give birth at home with a midwife. Gothard wants to train future doctors by watching other doctors, not by going to medical school which is wrong."^[21]

Sexual misconduct

Don Veinot, Joy Veinot, and Ron Henzel wrote a book titled ''A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life'' which criticizes Bill Gothard and his teachings . In it, they summarized various allegations of sexual misconduct within the IBLP ministry.^[22] First, the book quotes Samuel Schultz, a member of IBLP's board of directors, as saying that on May 14, 1980, he and other board members found out about "gross immorality that had prevailed for some time among the staff..." Regarding this, Bill Gothard told ''Christianity Today'', "My brother, who was in a leadership position, has confessed to deception and fornication with several women." Gothard blamed himself for "disregarding his [brother's] personal needs." He stated, "My pride and wrong priorities resulted in encouraging him to postpone marriage because of the demands of the ministry."^[22] ''Christianity Today'' stated that Gothard knew about his brother's actions since January of 1976 but had "indicated no resolve to deal with Steve [his brother]."
alleges that Gothard tried to cover up the scandal but "despite Gothard's best efforts at containment...the story was reported in the ''Los Angeles Times''." In 1982 the ''Los Angeles Times'' also reported allegations that "Bill Gothard was seen by staff members patting and fondling women employees. Later, he admitted in staff meetings that these actions were 'moral failures' on his part."^[22] Veinot also states that in 2001 a sex scandal took place at IBLP headquarters, shortly before the group's annual homeschooling conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Veinot alleges that an intended keynote speaker at the upcoming conference left his family after an ongoing affair with his secretary was exposed. Veinot alleged that employees and volunteers serving at the facilities in Oak Brook were asked to keep silent on both matters, leading to criticism that Gothard was attempting to "cover up" the issues.^[25]

Books

★ ''Basic Preparation for Engagement''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1971, ASIN B00

★ ''How to Evaluate Music''. Life Change Books, 1989, ISBN Unavailable

★ ''Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts: Research in Principles of Life''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1981, ISBN 0-916888-05-3

★ ''Men's Manual, Vol. 1''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1979, ISBN 0-916888-04-5

★ ''Nuestro Dios Celoso/Our Jealous God: El Amor que no me deja ir/The love that doesn't let me go''. Editorial Unilit 2004, ISBN 0-7899-1215-5

★ 'Our Jealous God''. Life Change Books, 2003. ISBN 1-59052-225-7

★ ''Rebuilder's Guide''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1982. ISBN 0-916888-06-1

★ ''Research in Principles of Life: Advanced Seminar Textbook''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts 1986. ISBN 0-916888-11-8

★ ''Rewards of Being Reviled''. Life Change Books, 2004. ISBN 0-916888-30-4

★ ''Self-Acceptance''. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1984. ASIN B0007270AO

★ ''The Power of Crying Out''. Life Change Books, 2002, ISBN 1-59052-037-8

★ ''The Power of Spoken Blessings''. Life Change Books, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-375-X

★ ''The Sevenfold Power of First Century Churches and Homes''. Life Change Books, 2000. ISBN 0-916888-18-5

See also

★ Institute in Basic Life Principles

★ Jim Bob Duggar

References

1. Institute in Basic Life Principle's 2005 990 from GuideStar (last accessed 4 September 2007)
2. Bill Gothard's Biography from billgothard.com
3. What Bill Gothard teaches from billgothard.com
4. Institute in Basic Life Principle's History from iblp.org
5. Institute in Basic Life Principle's Board from iblp.org
6. Advanced Training Institute's History from ati.iblp.org
7. Bill Gothard. ''The Power of Crying Out'' Multnomah (2002), leading pages
8. Duggar family, "Our new Home & Debt Free Living." (accessed 30 August 2006)
9. G. Richard Fisher, "The Basic Life Principles of Bill Gothard", Personal Freedom Outreach, 1998 (a critical group)
10. Bible Discernment Ministries, "Bill Gothard", 2004
11. Medical Training Institute of America, ''"Basic CARE Bulletin: No. 19, Infertility and Birth Control,"'' p. 43. Institute in Basic Life Principles.
12. Dean I. Youngberg, M.D., A Message From the Director of the Medical Training Institute (last accessed 23 August 2006)
13. Million Dollar Man by Robert Bryce Austin Chronicle
14. Medical Training Institute of America, ''Basic CARE Bulletins; Series One: Bulletins 6–10 Description and Topics'' (last accessed 30 August 2006)
15. G. Richard Fisher, "A Study in Evolving Fadism: The Cultic Leanings of Bill Gothard's Teachings", ''Personal Freedom Outreach'' Quarterly Journal, April-June 1996.
16. Ron Henzel "Bill Gothard and Institute in Basic Life Principles" ''Midwest Christian Outreach'' 2006
17. Don Veinot. ''A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life'' 21st century Press (2002), Chapter 10, Bill Gothard - Medicine Manpage.
18. Don Veinot. ''A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life'' 21st century Press (2002), page 64
19. Bill Gothard’s Mystical Approach To Medical Issues by Marty Butz Midwest Christian Outreach
20. Bill Gothard’s Mystical Approach To Medical Issues by Marty Butz, Midwest Christian Outreach.
21. Institute for Biblical & Scientific Studies
22.
23.
24.
25. Don Veinot, Ron Henzel, and Joy Veinot. ''A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard & the Christian Life''. 21st century Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9717009-2-3

External links

Official pages

★ Bill Gothard's Official Web Site

★ Institute in Basic Life Principles

Articles about

★ "Gothard: Cult of Character" ''In These Times'' January 9, 2006

★ Bill Gothard: Man of God or Questionable Leader? MacGregor Ministries

★ Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc.

★ A Study In Evolving Fadism - Dangerous Leanings of Bill Gothard's Teaching Personal Freedom Outreach