Bill Gothard is an evangelical Christian minister and founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), an organization that runs conferences, programs, and materials promoting conservative Christian values. Gothard’s teachings emphasize strict adherence to the Bible, male headship, homeschooling, and maintaining high moral standards. The IBLP runs seminars nationwide teaching its interpretations of the Bible and how to apply biblical principles to everyday life.
Bill Gothard was born in 1934 in Chicago. As a young man, he felt called to Christian ministry. In 1961, at age 27, Gothard founded a youth ministry focused on teaching practical applications of the Bible. This ministry grew rapidly, and by 1966 he had resigned from his full-time job to devote himself to it. In 1964 Gothard named his ministry the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, later changing the name to the Institute in Basic Life Principles.
The IBLP held its first Basic Seminar in 1964. These week-long seminars teach fundamentalist Protestant doctrines on topics like God’s grace, overcoming sin, financial management, and relationships. They emphasize literal interpretation of the Bible. Gothard promised the seminars would benefit people struggling with problems like substance abuse, rebellious children, and failing marriages. The seminars proved popular and began attracting thousands of attendees. They were usually held at large venues and spread via word of mouth.
Key teachings in Gothard’s Basic Seminars include:
- All answers for life’s problems can be found in the Bible if interpreted correctly.
- God’s grace and salvation come through faith in Christ, not by good works.
- Believers must recognize and repent of sin to live righteously.
- Success comes from applying biblical principles.
- Husbands have authority over wives in marriage.
- Obedience and submission to authority are essential.
- God’s principles apply to all facets of life including relationships, morality, education, finances, etc.
In addition to the seminars, Gothard’s ministry offered counseling, homeschool curricula, and programs for training missionaries and ministers. Gothard taught that God placed authorities like parents, employers, and government leaders in their positions. Therefore people must submit to and obey these authorities. He emphasized strict moral codes condemning rock music, dating, and divorce. Gothard also discouraged adoption, youth sports, and higher education.
Gothard’s teachings grew popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It is estimated over 2.5 million people attended his Basic Seminars during this period. His conservative views aligned with the rising religious right in America. Gothard associated with conservative politicians and activists. His ministry advocated politically for positions like school prayer, abstinence-only sex education, and abolishing welfare programs.
However, Gothard and the IBLP faced growing criticism by the 1990s. Former ministry members accused Gothard of emotional abuse and controlling behavior. He was forced to resign in 1980 after it became public he had engaged in sexual misconduct with staff. Gothard retook leadership of IBLP in 1981. More allegations against Gothard surfaced in the 1990s and 2000s, including inappropriate and harassing behavior toward dozens of girls and young women. Over 60 women have claimed they were exploited by Gothard when they were minors working for or volunteering with the ministry.
In 2014 Gothard was forced to resign again after an internal investigation found these accusations of sexually harassing minors had merit. The investigation was sparked by a lawsuit filed by 11 Jane Doe plaintiffs accusing Gothard of sexual abuse and harassment. Since Gothard’s departure, the IBLP has struggled with declining revenue and membership. However, the ministry continues operating and spreading its teachings.
Key Teachings and Beliefs
The Institute in Basic Life Principles builds its teachings around conservative and fundamentalist Protestant theology. Gothard taught principles found in the Bible could be practically applied to achieve success in all areas of life. Here are some key beliefs in Gothard’s teachings:
Bible
Gothard taught the Bible as the inspired and inerrant word of God. He emphasized interpreting the Bible literally and deriving practical principles from it. Gothard often focused on obscure Old Testament passages and drew questionable meanings from them. His teachings claim all wisdom needed for life can be found in proper understanding of Scripture.
Salvation
The IBLP Statement of Faith affirms salvation comes through God’s grace alone, received through faith in Jesus Christ. Good works cannot earn salvation. Gothard taught the importance of having saving faith in Christ and living according to God’s word.
Sin and Guilt
Gothard stressed the damaging consequences of sin and guilt. He taught that confessing and repenting from sin is essential for following God’s plan and finding success. Guilt cripples people until they accept Christ’s forgiveness.
Authority
One of Gothard’s core themes is the absolute necessity of submitting to authority. This includes any figures God has placed in leadership such as government officials, employers, parents, and husbands. Rebellion against rightful authority is considered a serious sin.
Marriage and Family
Gothard placed great emphasis on cultivating strong marriages and families according to biblical principles. He taught wives must submit to their husbands’ leadership. Husbands have authority over wives just as Christ has authority over the Church (Ephesians 5:22-24). Gothard discouraged birth control and taught couples must be open to as many children as God chooses to bless them with.
Education and Work
Gothard discouraged college education, especially for women. He advocated homeschooling and taught formal schooling cannot provide the moral or practical education children need. Gothard claimed success comes from applying biblical principles to one’s work and investments more than pursuing higher education.
Controversies
While popular among conservative Christians, Gothard and the IBLP generated significant controversy over the ministry’s extreme positions and Gothard’s alleged personal misconduct.
Authoritarian Control
Former followers of Gothard have accused him of being authoritarian, controlling, and abusive. Gothard warned failure to follow his strict teachings would bring God’s disfavor. He was said to foster a cult-like environment at IBLP headquarters. Gothard placed himself as the ultimate authority on biblical truth.
Legalism
Gothard has been critiqued for promoting legalism – the belief moral behavior earns favor with God. Gothard created long lists of rigid rules for behavior, appearance, and morality. Followers were instructed on minute details like women’s hair lengths, banning cabbage patch dolls, and types of permissible music.
Sexual Abuse Allegations
The most serious controversies surrounding Gothard relate to dozens of allegations he sexually abused or harassed girls and young women under his authority. Many women described inappropriate touching or fondling by Gothard. These allegations eventually forced Gothard’s resignation from the IBLP. However, Gothard denied many of the accusations.
Failed Programs
Secular critics have argued Gothard’s programs do not deliver the life-changing results promised. For example, studies found little lasting difference between teens completing Gothard’s programs and control groups on outcomes like school performance or criminal behavior. Similarly, married couples attending Gothard’s seminars saw no better marital satisfaction or lower divorce rates compared to other groups.
Isolationism
Gothard instructed followers to avoid secular entertainment, education, counseling, and government programs. Some former adherents felt this isolation left them unprepared for adult responsibilities. Gothard discouraged adoptees from seeking information on their biological families. He also promoted arranging marriages quickly through parental involvement.
Impact and Influence
While controversial, Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles spread widely and influenced millions of Christians adhering to fundamentalist or conservative evangelical theology. Here are some ways Gothard and the IBLP impacted American religious culture:
- Helped popularize Christian homeschooling, abstinence-only sex education, and conservative family values.
- Provided basis for the Quiverfull and Patriarchy religious movements.
- Influenced conservative Christian politicians on issues like school prayer.
- Shaped evangelical dating, courtship, and family practices.
- Led many Christians to embrace authority structures like patriarchy.
- Promoted character and Bible education over academic achievement.
- Instilled belief that the Bible contains practical solutions for all problems.
- Spread teachings across America and to over 70 countries.
- Influenced millions through widely circulated publications and programs.
- Nurtured conservative political activism on issues like abortion and gay rights.
Gothard resigned from IBLP leadership in 2014, but the ministry continues operating. It faces declining revenue and membership but supports over 300 programs in prisons, schools, churches, and medical facilities across the U.S. and abroad. The IBLP also continues providing homeschool curricula and conferences promoting its interpretation of biblical principles.
While controversial, Gothard’s teachings found a receptive audience among conservative Christians seeking to apply their faith to education, family, morality, politics, and cultural issues. The IBLP helped establish and spread ideas that shaped generations of fundamentalist and evangelical Christian families. Gothard’s promotion of rigid gender roles, distrust of secular society, and authoritarian leadership influenced large swathes of evangelical subculture. The IBLP’s impact faded amid scandals surrounding Gothard but still persists through those shaped by its teachings over decades.