A Decade After Being Ousted for Sexual Misconduct, Is Bill Gothard Staging a Comeback?
Bill Gothard is an American Christian minister and speaker who founded the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) in 1961, a non-profit organization that teaches biblical principles for family, education, government, and business.
Popular with many conservative, IFB, and homeschool parents, he was perhaps best known for his Advanced Training Institute (ATI), a homeschooling program with a curriculum based on the Sermon on the Mount, and his strict teaching on proper Christian behavior, which focused on the importance of following biblical principles in all aspects of life, emphasizes the authority of the Bible, personal responsibility, and the concept of a biblical “chain of command.” For decades the organization put on conferences, training seminars, and published books, booklets, and other materials to promote its teachings.
In latter years, Gothard and the IBLP faced increasing pressure and scrutiny. Critics raised several concerns, including allegations of sexual misconduct, lack of transparency and accountability for abuse victims, cult-like practices, rigid gender roles, legalism, the promotion of cruel child-rearing practices, and suspect theological interrelations of the scripture. Former members have reported feeling isolated and controlled by the organization, and many have criticized IBLP’s teachings as being overly restrictive and rigid.
Some of the biggest proponents of the IBLP were Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who many saw as the “face” of the teachings and spoke at their summer camp. Recently, their Jinger Duggar was sharply critical of the movement and how it impacted her upbringing, writing in her new book ‘Becoming Free Indeed’ that the practices of the IBLP were “built on rules, not God’s Word.”
In 2014, 34 women came forward with stories of sexual harassment and misconduct by Gothard, including 4 who allege molestation. This led to the resignation of several IBLP board members and his role at the organization. Several alleged victims soon filed a lawsuit against Bill Gothard and IBLP but withdrew it in 2018, citing complexities and the statute of limitations.
After the allegations were revealed, the Board released a statement saying:
Mr. Gothard has acted in an inappropriate manner, and the Board realizes the seriousness of his lack of discretion and failure to follow Christ’s example of being blameless and above reproach….At this time, the Board unanimously agrees that Mr. Gothard is not permitted to serve in any counseling, leadership, or Board role within the IBLP ministry.”
Since leaving, Gothard has been busy, hosting men’s gatherings in his home, writing several new books, and expanding EmbassyUniversity.com.
According to close friend Bob Cosby, a decorated army veteran, emergency department physician, and IBLP alumni, he has been in contact with Gothard, who told him his reinstatement to the IBLP is imminent, making the claim in a private Facebook group dedicated to supporting him.
If so, this would be major reversal for the organization, which has been steadily losing millions of dollars over last decade, and may feel that Gothard’s return to the helm would steady and right the ship.
We’ve reached out to the IBLP but did not receive a response at the time of publishing.
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Par for the course these days. Pathetic.
I get angry every time I think about all of the annual vacations I wasted going to Gothard’s seminars and how many thousands of dollars I wasted on his “materials” thru the years. My kids even went to his “children’s seminar” for several years. Toward the end, Gothard was so busy playing and cavorting around that he would advertise in advance that he would do the seminar live but then bail out on the first night, asking to be “released”. Made me sick. When all of this came to light about him being a sexual predator I called him and asked for my money back. He called me back at home with a thousand excuses – none of them plausible. The worst thing – to me – was the way he controlled his avid followers. They were mostly arrogant, blind and obnoxious sycophants who are probably still in love with him. He’s probably broke now and doesn’t know how to make a living any other way so he’s going back to the only thing he knows: being a pious, self righteous and dishonest twit. No thanks. I hope people have better sense than to fall for it. If you know Gothard, please ask him to call me.