Bill Gothard

Bill Gothard (born November 2, 1934) is a conservative Christian conference speaker and founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) (formerly known as "Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts), based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Despite being certified as a non-profit tax-exempt religious or charitable organization by the IRS, the progressive tabloid, In These Times, says that IBLP "brings in an estimated profit of at least $63 million annually."

Biography

In 1964, 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 gained popularity in the 1970's due to his calls for strong authority in a time of social unrest. His calls were a product of deeply conservative evangelicalism. He was ordained by LaGrange Bible Church in suburban Chicago. Since then the Basic Youth Conflicts (later referred to as Basic Seminars) grew and attendance averaged between 10,000 and 20,000. Yet, according to a one of Gothard's most ardent critics, because of alleged sex scandals, "at one time the seminars could attract capacity crowds to major indoor sports arenas even twice in the same year, now they can hardly fill all the seats in local church auditoriums."

In 1996, Character Training Institute (CTI) was started, with help from businessman Thomas A. Hill, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and helps instill the value of respect of authority into hundreds of elementary, middle and high schools, state and city offices, corporations, police departments and jails. This includes a "Police Dymanics class," which "in a nutshell, is biblical wisdom that's been packaged into a law enforcement message," is what CTI instructor Ray Nash told Rev. Mark Creech in a November 2004 article for Alan Keyes' RenewAmerica Web site." Currently "160 cities ranging from Compton, California, to Hamburg, New York, 31 counties, and seven states—Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina—have now passed "character" resolutions and proclamations based on CTI's teachings and materials." Current board members include Texas Republican Representative Sam Johnson.

His seminars teach that unmarried children should honor their parents even if they are adults and that unmarried adult children should continue to live at home until marriage. If they never do marry they should remain with parents until death. This was true of Gothard (who has never married, and who lived with his parents until their deaths). Similarly, divorce is never acceptable for any reason, and a person who is divorced should seek (if possible) to reunite with their spouse—even if the divorce took place before the person became a Christian—and if not possible should never remarry.

Gothard discourages the listening to contemporary Christian music, encourages homeschooling, and his group publishes its own homeschool material; and, according to one follower, claims borrowing money for any reason, even a home mortgage, is wrong. 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, and has discouraged the use of contraceptives or other family planning.

As a part of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, Gothard organized the Medical Training Institute of America (MTIA), run by Director Dean I. Youngberg, M.D., whose states the purpose of MTIA is to "train men and women to assist families in making wise decisions about health care issues." The institute publishes Basic Care Newsletters. In example of one of its recommendations comes in CARE Bulletin #7 where it says, "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."

In 2004, Gothard received his Ph.D. from Louisiana Baptist University, a bible college that is unaccredited.

Controversies and criticism

Teachings

Gothard has been criticized by two groups devoted to the "counter-cult and apologetics ministry". One group is called Midwest Christian Outreach (MCO), a group consisting of 5 board members, including president Don Veinot and his wife. Don Veinot wrote a book that was critical of Gothard. MCO publishes a quarterly journal that has criticized Gothard on occasion. Another critical group is Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO), a group devoted to the exposing what it believes are cultic movements. PFO consists of 10 people that publish a quarterly journal.

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. Gothard was also accused by some of being hyprocritical for not practing what he preaches about conflict resolution.

Dr. Ronald Allen, Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas 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)."

Medical advice

Gothard has attempted to bring his legalistic teachings into all areas of life. Gothard's teaches that he holds absolute authority: use of cosmetics, clothing, beards, sleep schedules, homeschooling, courtship and marriage, and even medical advice." Gothard's institute has a "medical training institute", which is no licensed as a medical school. The Institute for Biblical & Scientific Studies notes "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."

Marty Butz explained, "addition to much of what might be construed as practical, educational, and informative medical advice, Mr. Gothard also presents diagnoses and cures for medical problems which, in some cases, could possibly cause serious harm." Butz offers "examples of Mr. Gothard’s advocacy of a mystical approach towards resolving health problems," and explains why western medicine is more reliable than Gothard's diagnosis.

Sexual misconduct

Much of the criticism of Gothard originated from Don Venoit's book A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life 21st Century Press (2002). Venoit's book also alleges three different instances of sexual misconduct. The first being Gothard himself had indecent contact with some of his female staff, and "admitted in staff meetings that these actions were 'moral failures' on his part. Secondly, Venoit notes that in 2001 a sex scandal took place at IBLP headquarters, shortly before the group's annual homeschooling conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Venoit alleges that Jim Voeller, an intended keynote speaker at the upcoming conference and the director of Bill Gothard's homeschooling curriculum, left his wife and seven children after an ongoing affair with his secretary was exposed. Venoit 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. Lastly, controversy appeared when when Bill Gothard's brother admitted to having affairs with a number of secretaries in the IBLP ministry.

Social issues

Gothard was also criticized in a song by Christian rock musician Steve Taylor. Gothard preaches against modern Christian musicians and specifically he had mentioned negative things about Taylor.

Gothard has "warned" that "if your daughter has a Cabbage Patch doll she could become mentally ill because their middle names are demonic."

Books

• Basic Preparation for Engagement. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1971, ASIN B00073AKU0
• Careers Guidance in Context. SAGE Publications, 2002. ISBN 0-7619-6906-3 (co author)
• How to Evaluate Music. Life Change Books, 1989, ISBN 6052230010 Template:Invalid isbn
• 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 Reviles. 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

External links

• Bill Gothard's Official Web Site
• Institute in Basic Life Principles
• In These Times: "Gothard: Cult of Character" January 9, 2006
• MacGregor Ministries Bill Gothard: Man of God or Questionable Leader? (MacGregor Ministries proclaims to be "A Christian Outreach to those involved in cult groups.")
• Bill Gothard General Teachings/Activities