Bill Gothard

Infobox Person
name = Bill Gothard


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birth_name = William W. Gothard Jr.
birth_date = birth date and age|1934|11|2
birth_place = Illinois, United States
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residence = La Grange Illinois, United States |La Grange, IL
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occupation = pastor, instructor, author
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religion = Christian
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website = [http://billgothard.com/ billgothard.com]
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William ("Bill") W. Gothard (born November 2, 1934) is an American speaker and writer. At the age of 15, he dedicated his life to helping teenagers and their parents to make 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.

Biography

Gothard is the third of six children born to William and Carmen Gothard [http://billgothard.com/bill/about/bio/ Bill Gothard's Biography] from billgothard.com] . 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 says that God brought him to an understanding of his need for a personal Savior through the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Shortly after accepting Jesus as his 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 wise decisions.

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 [http://billgothard.com/bill/about/whatiteach/ What Bill Gothard teaches] from billgothard.com] .

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) [http://iblp.org/iblp/about/history/ Institute in Basic Life Principle's History] from iblp.org] . Gothard is currently the president and a board member of this organization [http://iblp.org/iblp/about/corporate/board/ Institute in Basic Life Principle's Board] from iblp.org] .

Gothard gained popularity in the 1970s 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 homeschooling program, the Advanced Training Institute of America was founded [http://ati.iblp.org/ati/about/history/ Advanced Training Institute's History] from ati.iblp.org] . The curriculum for this program uses the teachings of Jesus from Matthew 5,6, and 7 as a foundation for other areas of study [http://ati.iblp.org/ati/about/ About the Advanced Training Institute] from ati.iblp.org] .

An author of numerous books, some of Gothard's publications have been endorsed by leading Christians including Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. Charles Stanley, the late Adrian Rogers, and the late D. James Kennedy as well as congressmen Jim Ryun and Sam Johnson [Bill Gothard. "The Power of Crying Out" Multnomah (2002), leading pages] .

In 2004, Gothard received his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University, an unaccredited, conservative Christian university.

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 any "un-Christian" music, including all popular and 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. [Duggar family, [http://www.duggarfamily.com/articles/new-home.php "Our new Home & Debt Free Living."] (accessed 30 August 2006)] 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 [G. Richard Fisher, " [http://www.pfo.org/bgothard.htm The Basic Life Principles of Bill Gothard"] , Personal Freedom Outreach, 1998 (a critical group)] , and has discouraged the use of contraceptives or other family planning. [Bible Discernment Ministries, [http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/gothard/general.htm "Bill Gothard"] , 2004] [Medical Training Institute of America, " [http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/mtia/carebulletins/series1/16-20/ "Basic CARE Bulletin: No. 19, Infertility and Birth Control,"] " p. 43. Institute in Basic Life Principles. ]

As a part of the IBLP, Gothard organized the "Medical Training Institute of America" (MTIA), the purpose of which is to "train men and women to assist families in making wise decisions about health care issues."Dean I. Youngberg, M.D., [http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/mtia/message/ A Message From the Director of the Medical Training Institute] (last accessed 23 August 2006)] The "Medical Training Institute of America" is not a medical school and does not grant degrees. It 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 IBLP's board of directors. [http://iblp.org/iblp/about/corporate/board/] Leininger is a San Antonio multimillionaire with an "ultra-conservative bent" who supports political candidates with socially conservative beliefs. [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue22/pols.leiniger.profile.html Million Dollar Man] by Robert Bryce Austin Chronicle]

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." [Medical Training Institute of America, " [http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/mtia/carebulletins/series1/6-10/ Basic CARE Bulletins; Series One: Bulletins 6–10 Description and Topics] " (last accessed 30 August 2006)]

Controversies and criticism

Teachings

A group critical of many Christian ministries and personalities, Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO), has published criticism about Gothard in three basic areas: they say Gothard's views are legalistic teachings and interpretations of Scripture, they say IBLP and its adherents exhibit a "cult-like" mentality, and they express concern about what they perceive as Gothard's application of authoritarianism within his own organization. [G. Richard Fisher, "A Study in Evolving Fadism: The Cultic Leanings of Bill Gothard's Teachings", "Personal Freedom Outreach" Quarterly Journal, April-June 1996.] Gothard was also accused by some of being hypocritical for not practicing what he preaches about conflict resolution, [Ron Henzel [http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/02-OnlineReference/02-UnorthodoxyGuide/105-IKnowSomething/Gothard-IBLP/ "Bill Gothard and Institute in Basic Life Principles"] "Midwest Christian Outreach" 2006] 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, even into his 70s.

The Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc (MCOI) has also claimed that Gothard's teachings are too legalistic. President of Midwest Christian Outreach, Don Veinot, in his critical book on Gothard, quotes Dr. Ronald Allen, Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, a conservative evangelical theological seminary. Dr. Allen attended a Gothard seminar in 1973 and wrote of his experience, "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)." [Don Veinot. "A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life" 21st century Press (2002), page 64]

Matthew Murray

Matthew J. Murray, the spree shooter in the Arvada missionary shooting and New Life Church shooting, was homeschooled and raised by his parents using some of Gothard's curriculum. Murray blamed his upbringing in posts to Internet forums where critics of The Institute in Basic Life Principles discuss the organization and its teachings. [ cite news
last = Lofholm
first = Nancy
title = Shooter's lessons strict, rule-driven: Few educators recommend the curriculum, which forbids dating and rock music.
publisher = The Denver Post
date=2007-12-12
url = http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7697827
accessdate = 2007-12-12] [ cite news | last = Morson | first = Berny | title = Gunman railed against home-school Christian curriculum | publisher = Rocky Mountain News |date=2007-12-12 | url = http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/12/gunman-railed-against-home-school-christian-curric/ | accessdate = 2007-12-12] Interviews of Matthew Murray's parents and of the parents of two victims can be accessed through the Focus on the Family website. [http://listen.family.org/daily/A000000934.cfm] "

External links

Official pages

* [http://www.billgothard.com Bill Gothard's Official Web Site]
* [http://www.iblp.org Institute in Basic Life Principles]

Articles about

* [http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2450/ "Gothard: Cult of Character"] "In These Times" January 9, 2006
* [http://www.macgregorministries.org/nvweb/%20featureart./gothard.html Bill Gothard: Man of God or Questionable Leader?] MacGregor Ministries
* [http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/02-OnlineReference/02-UnorthodoxyGuide/105-IKnowSomething/Gothard-IBLP/index.html Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles] Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc.
* [http://www.pfo.org/evol-fad.htm A Study In Evolving Fadism - Dangerous Leanings of Bill Gothard's Teaching] Personal Freedom Outreach
* [http://www.talk2action.org/story/2007/12/24/104520/57 Mike Huckabee with Bill Gothard] Talk To Action
* [http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php/content/comments/bill_gothard_schizophrenia_equals_irresponsibility/ Schizophrenia Equals Irresponsibility] The Cincinnati Beacon

ee also

*Institute in Basic Life Principles
*Jim Bob Duggar

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

References