15 Facts About Bill Gothard

Bill Gothard received his BA in biblical studies from Wheaton College, 1957 and then his MA in Christian education in 1961.

In 1961, Bill Gothard started Campus Teams, an organization which changed its name to the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts in 1974.

The organization's name changed again in 1989 to the Institute in Basic Life Principles, of which Bill Gothard was the president and a board member until his resignation in 2014.

In 1984, Bill Gothard founded the Advanced Training Institute, a homeschooling program with a curriculum based on the Sermon on the Mount.

Bill Gothard had many political connections with Republican political leaders, including Mike Huckabee, Sonny Perdue, and Sarah Palin.

Bill Gothard's ministry was popular with the reality TV Duggar family and others.

Bill Gothard's primary teaching, his "Basic Seminar", focuses on what he refers to as seven "Basic Life Principles".

Bill Gothard teaches that these principles are universal, and that people will suffer consequences for violating them.

Bill Gothard's principles are called Design, Authority, Responsibility, Suffering, Ownership, Freedom, and Success.

Bill Gothard teaches that dating is morally dangerous and that courtship is the better alternative.

Bill Gothard encourages parents to be involved in their children's courtship, and that a father should be involved in his daughter's relationships, and should at the very least have the right to say "no" when a man asks to marry his daughter.

Bill Gothard has warned that Cabbage Patch dolls are idolatrous.

Bill Gothard has been the subject of much debate in Christian circles, and occasionally in mass media.

Bill Gothard denied the allegations and admitted no wrongdoing but announced his resignation from the Institute in order "to listen to those who have ought [sic] against him".

In July 2015, Bill Gothard re-launched his website, including testimonials from several women.