Bill Gothard
| Bill Gothard | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
November 2, 1934 Illinois, United States |
| Residence | La Grange, Illinois, United States La Grange, IL |
| Occupation | Instructor, author |
| Known for | Institute in Basic Life Principles |
| Website | BillGothard.com |
William W. "Bill" Gothard, Jr. (born November 2, 1934) is an American Christian minister, speaker, and writer, and the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). His conservative teachings encourage Bible memorization, large families, homeschooling, aversion to debt, respect for authority, conservative dress, and extended principles related to identity, family, education, healthcare, music, and finances. In 2014 he stepped down from the IBLP after multiple allegations of sexual harassment and molestation were made against him. No criminal charges were filed.
At the height of his popularity during the 1970s, the Basic Youth Conflicts seminar with Bill Gothard was regularly filling auditoriums throughout the United States and beyond with attendance figures as large as ten thousand and more for a one-week seminar. In this way, he reached many in the evangelical community from the Baby Boomer generation during their teen years and years of young adulthood. Other seminars during this time included an advanced youth conflicts seminar and as well as seminars for pastors, physicians, and legislators.
Bill Gothard has credited a large influence to his parents. His mother, Carmen Christina Gothard (née Torres), was of Mexican-American descent. His father, William Gothard, Sr. was a speaker at many seminars during the early years, and held high positions at organizations that included the Gideons, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago.
Bill Gothard received his B.A. in biblical studies from Wheaton College in 1957, an M.A. in Christian education in 1961 from the same institution and a Ph.D. in biblical studies from the unaccredited Louisiana Baptist University in 2004.
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