Bill Gothard acted in an “inappropriate manner” but “no criminal activity was discovered”

The Aquila Report ^ | 6-20-14 | Francine Knowles

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Bill Gothard acted in an “inappropriate manner” but “no criminal activity was discovered”

According to a statement by the board of directors of the Institute in Basic Life Principles posted on its website

Written by Francine Knowles | Friday, June 20, 2014

1 The board said based on a review conducted by outside legal counsel, it unanimously agreed that “at this time” Gothard “is not permitted to serve in any counseling, leadership or board role within the IBLP ministry.” That leaves open the question of whether the 79-year-old Gothard may be allowed to return one day as he did after resigning following another sexual scandal years earlier.

A board investigation of the former president of a controversial Oak Brook-based religious and home-schooling organization, who resigned following allegations he sexually harassed teen girls, concluded he acted in an “inappropriate manner.”

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Online resources to learn more about the Gothard cult:

http://www.recoveringgrace.org/

http://www.midwestoutreach.org/a-matter-of-basic-principles-bill-gothard-and-the-christian-life/

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Ping.

[fishtank]

http://www.recoveringgrace.org/

Four Pre-Digital Reviews of Gothard’s Theology

20 May 2014, 07:00Moderator 26
This post provides the full text of four articles referenced in the Recovering Grace (RG) article “Early Warnings of a False Authority.” Please click the links to read the first three articles.
We note that Dr. Patterson amended his article on May 15, 2014. He laments Bill Gothard’s moral failings, but concludes: “This renders the outcome of recent days tragic but negates no biblical truth elucidated [by Gothard].” Patterson’s response may deserve an article of its own, but that is for another day.

Patterson, Paige. “The Theology of Bill Gothard,” The Theological Educator, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Vol. 6, no. 2, Spring 1976, pp. 11–13.

Lee, Sr., George F. “The Gothard Institutes,” The Theological Educator, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, no. 28, Spring 1984, pp. 5–8.

Fisher, G. R. “Is Anything Wrong with Bill Gothard’s Teachings?” Journal of Pastoral Practice, Jay Adams, editor, Vol. VII, No. 2, 1984, pp. 35–45.

Henke, David. “A Summary Report: Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles,” for Edgewood Baptist Church, September, 1993. This article is republished below with the author’s permission.

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http://www.midwestoutreach.org/a-matter-of-basic-principles-bill-gothard-and-the-christian-life/

The Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (now known as the IBLP) began in 1964 under the leadership of Bill Gothard and enjoyed unprecedented expansion during the ’70s. As board members we recognized that God was at work in this ministry.

In May 1980 we were shocked to learn of gross immorality that had prevailed for years among the staff under Bill’s supervision as president. Bill failed to share this information with the board nor did he seek their counsel. By the end of that year it became apparent that Bill continued his authoritarian style of leadership, dismissing those on the board as well as staff who disagreed with him. Consequently I found it necessary to resign.

As early as 1973 questions were raised about IBYC/IBLP by various individuals such as Dr. Ronald B. Allen, Dr. Earl Radmacher, Wilfred Bockelman and others. In the pages of this volume — which everyone who is involved with IBYC/IBLP should seriously evaluate — the reader will find that repeated attempts have been made to dialogue with Bill Gothard about his lack of submission to authority, his lack of accountability, and his failure to apply biblical principles to his own life. Bill’s teaching on legalism, law, and grace deserves careful examination. The authors are to be commended for their concern in publishing this helpful volume.

—Dr. Samuel J. Schultz.
Professor Emeritus of Old Testament
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

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http://www.midwestoutreach.org/a-matter-of-basic-principles-bill-gothard-and-the-christian-life/

This book is needed in many of our Evangelical Christian churches because

It’s a challenge to churches and Christians to test those teachers that are in our churches and the Christian community. This doesn’t only apply to Bill Gothard and his Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), but to many other ministries.
It’s balanced by going into the positive ends like giving a history of the problems that Christians were facing in their Christian living and in their own faith, how IBLP came into existence, and what attracted Christians to IBLP.
It’s a demonstration on how the principles of a Berean are to be carried out in testing what Bill Gothard teaches. When you read about the problems relating to Bill Gothard, the problems are logically expressed by properly applying the Scriptures and using Gothard’s own IBLP teachings. In addition cases are documented which make us question the foundation of IBLP.
The book starts off by challenging us as Christians and concludes in the same way. It’s not just about questioning a false teacher; it’s about waking us up. Does it take tragedies like Jonestown, Waco, and events related to doomsday cults to wake us up?
—Dr. Jerry Buckner
Adjunct Professor at Golden GateTheological Seminary
Host of Contending for the Faith on KFAX AM
Pastor of Tiburon Christian Fellowship
Tiburon, CA

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http://www.midwestoutreach.org/a-matter-of-basic-principles-bill-gothard-and-the-christian-life/

I have followed the teachings of the Institute of Basic Youth Conflicts (now IBLP) from its inception over 35 years ago. From the beginning I have been deeply concerned about the misuse and distortion of the teachings of God’s Word in their interpretation and application. I have had numerous occasions to voice my concerns in person and by telephone to Bill Gothard, his father, and other of his siblings. I have listened to the complaints of such scriptural abuse from many former administrators and staff of the Institute. I believe that Don and Joy Veinot and Ron Henzel of Midwest Christian Outreach have done the Christian public a tremendous service in their careful analysis and consequent warnings about the teachings that are promulgated by IBLP. The terrible hurt to so many staff and others that became public in the early ’80s need never have happened if there had been the humility to be corrected by numerous pastors and teachers. My prayer is that God will be pleased to use this work to bring the correction that is needed to bring the IBLP teachings into compliance with the Apostle Paul’s admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15.

—Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D.
Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology and
President Emeritus of Western Seminary
Portland, OR

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Any ministry or denomination that turns the Gospel of Grace into a religion of works is a perversion of truth and of the sacrifice of Christ.

[Tzfat]

Moral failure is what “others” have... Must we always remind folks what King David did? Although I am not a Gothard fan, these anti-Gothard groups are vindictive creeps. Not excepting Dr. Shultz...

[fishtank]

You wrote:

“Likewise, I’m suspicious of those that are not partnered with a local church or denomination. “

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3127968/posts?page=3#3

A good point, but really not complete. The ‘local’ church is not a magic shield against abuse, scripture twisting and cultism (i.e. Gothard-like orgs).

The Gothard-org set up many many ‘local churches’ that are run according to his twisted “Principles”.

There are many many people (even here on FR who are convinced that Gothard CANNOT and MUST NOT be criticized, evaluated, or weighed in the balance.

I blame Gothard for the cult he built, but I have to blame the sheep, as well, who were willing to be led astray.

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There were DOCTRINAL issues of scripture twisting that Gothard REFUSED to listen to for years and years and years, yet his followers swept everything under the rug.

By the way, if you read all the Bible, you’ll see that David did not go away unscathed.

[MNDude]

How did he twist scripture?

[Tzfat]

David did not go away unscathed, and neither will these anti-Gothard types who will be satisfied by nothing less than their own positions being advanced. They did not agree with ATI (neither do I), but they decided to wage a “moderate Christian” jihad against ATI. Gothard’s failing is just their excuse - and you just proved it. “Doctrinal issues” - the catch all for vindictive creeps.

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http://www.midwestoutreach.org/2012/10/18/obey-or-else-the-seven-habits-of-highly-annoying-christians-part-6/#more-2837

ARTICLE by Don Veinot

Some groups which could be classified as cults or abusive religious groups by Evangelicals strongly discourage thinking independently from the groups leadership. Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower Bible and Tract Society went so far in the 1980s as to run articles which boldly declared to “Avoid Independent Thinking.” Once the organization has made a decree the followers must simply hear and obey. When I teach on this I often find Evangelicals shaking their head with a sort of tsk, tsk reaction. But many Christians, it seems, are not in much better shape. Extra biblical official positions are handed down and lots of Evangelicals march in lock step. If someone dares question, they are viewed as an anti-Christ or at least back slidden in the faith.

We find this quite a bit in dealing with apologetics and false teachers. For example, in 1999 there was a great deal of hype and hoopla about Y2K. Michael Hyatt, Chuck Missler, James Dobson and many others were pronouncing the end of the world as we know. At midnight on December 31, 1999 all of the computers in the world would shut down, electricity production would cease, coffee makers would stop functioning and cars would no longer start. Back to horse and buggy days and Hyatt even suggested that his readers needed to decide how far would they be willing to go in protecting their food supplies. Kill the hungry hordes of invaders perhaps?

We looked at this carefully and printed our findings in early 1999 in an article titled, “Y2K: Genuine Crisis or Over-hyped Circus”. The response was quick with letters, notes and emails asking why we didn’t believe the Bible? How could we question and “attack” these faithful godly leaders? Our financial support dropped substantially.

About 3 years later we published our book, A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life. This one really cut to the heart of the matter. Has God given an authority which must be unquestioningly obeyed, as Gothard has historically taught?

...more at the link...

[Tzfat]

How did he twist scripture?

Not Scripture, he did not adequately support Luther's dogma, in reinterpreting Paul. The "magesterium" of Wheaton did thereby declare him heretic.

[fishtank]

Nice response. So, groping teenage girls is A-OK by you???

I'd hate to play poker against you.

/sarc

[fishtank]

Here's your "moderate Christian" jihad race card. You dropped it on the street back there.

[Tzfat]

Straw man. Gothard was wrong, and this group that hates ATI is delighted to use his failing to enact their own twisted vengeance against the conservative wing. Hate is ugly whatever guise it takes. Come on now, admit it. You are HAPPY to post about Gothard, aren’t you?

[Tzfat]

Loosing the debate? Mention “doctrinal issues” in a hushed voice, while all gasp...

[Always A Marine]

Moral failure is what “others” have... Must we always remind folks what King David did? Although I am not a Gothard fan, these anti-Gothard groups are vindictive creeps. Not excepting Dr. Shultz...

The point that you raise stems from a concern that all Christians should have, and which should be cause for deep soul searching and prayerful consideration before taking action against a leader. In the case of Bill Gothard, I believe that his many accusers delayed for years and bent themselves into pretzels giving Gothard the benefit of doubt. And as time passed, they discovered many others who had suffered similar abuse and intimidation at the hands of Bill Gothard and his brother. Despite countless attempts to confront Bill Gothard in accordance with Matthew 18, Gothard arrogantly refused to hear them and even retaliated against them.

In the end, the difference between King David and Bill Gothard is the opposite response of each when rebuked. David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against The Lord" - and and David repented. Bill Gothard claims that his accusers have sinned against him, and he refuses to repent.

[Tzfat]

I have no problem with action against Gothard for his moral failure. Sadly, that failure is only a pretext for what this vindictive group is doing. I have known many people who have used ATI resources over the years and I am not a fan of ATI - however, this group of people who are banging this drum are only using Gothard's moral failure as a hammer against what they really have problems with - what ATI taught. The "moderate" types simply cannot stand the type of people that hold a conservative view of Scripture and family life.

Their glee at Gothard's failure is palpable - much like secular society is when any religious leader is "caught." It can be called, "the hypocrisy of the critic of the hypocrite."