Bill Gothard

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Bill Gothard

Born William W. Gothard Jr.
November 2, 1934 (1934-11-02) (age 73)
Illinois, United States
Residence La Grange Illinois, United States
Occupation pastor, instructor, author
Religious beliefs Christian
Website
billgothard.com

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.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Gothard is the third of six children born to William and Carmen Gothard[1]. 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 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 wise decisions[1].

Gothard received his B.A., in Bible from Wheaton College in 1957 and his M.A., in Christian Education in 1961[1]. 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[2] .

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.[1]

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)[3]. Gothard is currently the president and a board member of this organization[4].

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[3].

In 1984, under Gothard’s leadership, a homeschooling program, the Advanced Training Institute of America was founded[5]. The curriculum for this program uses the teachings of Jesus from Matthew 5,6, and 7 as a foundation for other areas of study[6].

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[7].

In 2004, Gothard received his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University[1], an unaccredited, conservative Christian university.

Gothard has remained unmarried and has no children.

[edit] Teaching

Gothard's teaching focuses on seven "life principles", 49 character qualities, and 49 commands that Jesus gave[2]. 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."[2]

Gothard discourages listening to any "un-Christian" music, including all popular and contemporary Christian music and encourages homeschooling; IBLP publishes its own homeschool material[5]; 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), the purpose of which is 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. 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.[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]

[edit] Controversies and criticism

[edit] Teachings

A group called Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO) has 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, even into his 70s.

The Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc (MCOI) has also claimed that Gothard's teachings are too legalistic.

Don Veinot claimed in his critical book on Gothard that 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)."[17]

[edit] 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 teachings. Murray blamed his upbringing and named Gothard as one who contributed to his mental and social problems in posts to Internet forums where other Gothard critics and former organization members gather. [18] [19]

[edit] External links

[edit] Official pages

[edit] Articles about

[edit] See also

[edit] Books

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bill Gothard's Biography from billgothard.com
  2. ^ a b c What Bill Gothard teaches from billgothard.com
  3. ^ a b Institute in Basic Life Principle's History from iblp.org
  4. ^ Institute in Basic Life Principle's Board from iblp.org
  5. ^ a b Advanced Training Institute's History from ati.iblp.org
  6. ^ About the Advanced Training Institute 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. ^ a b 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), page 64
  18. ^ Lofholm, Nancy. "Shooter's lessons strict, rule-driven: Few educators recommend the curriculum, which forbids dating and rock music.", The Denver Post, December 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-12. 
  19. ^ Morson, Berny. "Gunman railed against home-school Christian curriculum", Rocky Mountain News, December 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-12. 
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