Institute in Basic Life Principles

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Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP)
Institute in Basic Life Principles logo.png
Founded1961
FounderBill Gothard
Type501(c)3 non-profit religious
Location
Area served
US, 12 countries[citation needed]
Employees
200[citation needed]
Volunteers
1,000[citation needed]
Websiteiblp.org

The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) is a non-denominational, Christian organization that serves as an umbrella organization for several ministries. IBLP was established by Bill Gothard for the purpose of resolving youth and family conflicts. IBLP's stated purpose is to provide instruction on how to find success in life by following biblical principles. It is a non-profit tax-exempt religious or charitable organization as defined by the IRS.[1]

IBLP maintains a post office box in Oak Brook, Illinois (Box One, though the former headquarters building is actually located in nearby Hinsdale, Illinois) as well as a large facility in East Texas near the town of Big Sandy.[2]

IBLP's programs include seminars for ministry, community outreach, troubled youth mentoring, and an international ministry.[3]

History[]

IBLP was originally organized in 1961 under the name Campus Teams. The organization changed its name to Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (IBYC) in 1974 (consistent with the title of its founder's seminar title), and adopted its current name in 1989 (to reflect its expansion beyond the seminars). IBLP started promoting Basic Youth Conflicts seminars in areas around the United States and other nations, which according to its own history, during the 1970s had attendances of up to 20,000 persons.[4]

In 2006, IBLP was reported to earn US$63 million (equivalent to about $81M in 2020) annually.[5]

By 2009 to 2012 the Institute in Basic Life Principles began a steady decline, losing money, assets, and greatly decreasing the number of annual seminars it conducted, while the public became increasingly aware of controversy (more specifically, allegations of sexual misconduct) associated with IBLP.[6] The controversy led to Gothard resigning in 2014, though not admitting to anything more than "a violation of trust". The following year, according to Chicago Magazine, IBLP relocated its headquarters to Texas;[7] IBLP's website does not mention this move. The former IBLP headquarters building has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals according to the Hinsdale official website.[8]

Philosophy[]

In addition to adherence to the Bible and Christian ideals, the IBLP considers males, in particular the patriarch of a family, to be superior whereas females are expected to obey men in every way. This includes in the home, school, workplace and marriage.

Women are raised to learn how to become a good wife, mother and to reproduce for the IBLP man chosen by her father to be her husband. Women are not allowed to date or even to flirt. They are raised knowing that their husband will be chosen for them by their father and that any flirtations are futile. A simple wink can be seen as lustful and lead to whoredom as would makeup, perfume, nail polish and heels.

Women are also discouraged from attaining a higher education. Couples are matched after a complex courtship overseen by both sets of parents.

Media is not allowed including television, movies, most music and the internet. Non-contemporary Christian music being the one exception. Dancing is not allowed in addition to alcohol. Women are expected to wear ankle-length dresses and to never cut their hair. Words could not be on the dresses as it is thought this brings attention to the body. Men are expected to wear dark suits and white shirts. Blue jeans are seen as ungodly for men. Even not being circumcised is seen as being unpure.

Children are homeschooled and do not often leave the complex if at all. Sexual education is never taught leading some children and teens to not understand sexual assault and for adults who have since left IBLP to struggle with relationships. Every one reads the Bible daily and is expected to spend time meditating on the message.

Children are taught that if you do not obey God's message or the rules of your father, then bad things will happen. This can include getting a cold which can be seen as a sign that you did something bad. "Real-world consequences at IBLP included scoldings, intense counseling, demotions, and even being kicked out altogether."[9][10]

Controversy[]

A number of former adherents of IBLP programmes have described the organization and/or associated circles as a cult.[11][12][13] Don Veinot, president of Midwest Christian Outreach, says that the charismatic leader, authoritarian control, isolation of members, severe punishments, and demand for absolute and blind loyalty add up to IBLP being "cult-like";[11] it does not consider IBLP a "cult" due to its (official) support of traditional Christian doctrine (MCO reserves that label for groups which officially deviate from such).

In the 1980s, the organization faced "a major sex scandal" when Gothard's brother, Steve Gothard, resigned as administrative director after having affairs with several secretaries of the institute."[14]

In 2014, Bill Gothard resigned as President of IBLP after reports that he had sexually harassed multiple women and failed to report allegations of child abuse in the organization. Gothard allegedly selected young women for administrative positions within the organization, then manipulated and harassed them while in his employment,[15] several of whose stories were featured on the website of Recovering Grace, a website and Christian ministry that functions as a support group for former students and members of IBLP. An investigation into the allegations by the IBLP concluded he "acted inappropriately," but "not criminally."[16]

On October 20, 2015, a civil lawsuit alleging a sex-abuse cover-up involving several minors was filed in DuPage County, Illinois against IBLP and its board of directors. Gretchen Wilkinson et al. vs. Institute in Basic Life Principles and William W. Gothard Jr. was brought on behalf of five female plaintiffs in order to "seek redress and damages for personal injuries based on the negligent and willful and wanton acts and omissions of the defendants with regard to sexual abuse and sexual harassment and similar allegations of malfeasance suffered by the plaintiffs."[citation needed] "Besides monetary damages, they have asked a DuPage County judge to bar IBLP leaders from alleged plans to liquidate resources estimated at more than $100 million while they close the institute's headquarters near Oak Brook and relocate to Texas, the lawsuit states."[17] Five additional accusers joined the suit in January 2016, and even more in February 2016, bringing the grand total of complainants to 16 women and two men. The case was voluntarily dismissed on February 26, 2018.

Programs[]

Seminars[]

  • Basic Seminar—The introduction to the basic teachings of Gothard and IBLP. The seminar is 32 hours in length, typically held over a period of six days. It focuses on seven "Basic Life Principles": Design, Authority, Responsibility, Suffering, Ownership, Freedom, and Success. These are designed to help the individual "view all of life from God's perspective." Basic Seminar "alumni" can re-attend the Basic Seminar free of charge.[18]
  • Advanced Seminar—Continues on the principles taught in the Basic Seminar. One must have attended the Basic Seminar in order to attend the Advanced Seminar. The Advanced Seminar primarily focuses on the areas of Marriage, Family, and Finances.[19]
  • Anger Resolution Seminar—A specialized seminar dealing with anger issues. Much of the material presented in this seminar is adapted from the Basic, but presented in a way geared to resolving anger issues. No prior Seminar attendance is required.[20]
  • Financial Freedom Seminar—A 16-hour video seminar taught by Jim Sammons explaining financial principles from the Bible.[21]

Other Umbrella Ministries[]

  • Prison Ministry[22]
  • Educational Programs
    • Advanced Training Institute International[23] -- IBLP's homeschooling curriculum, which it states is based on the Sermon on the Mount
    • Telos Institute International -- a former distance learning program, which was suspended in 2019
  • Public Services[24]
  • Training Centers[25]

References[]

  1. ^ "IRS, Search for Charities, Online Version of Publication 78". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  2. ^ IBLP is inconsistent within its own website as to its headquarters location. The "IBLP History" page under "About IBLP' prominently features the Oak Brook location stating it to be the headquarters; however, the "Contact Us" section of that same area references the Big Sandy location as the headquarters for IBLP and several of its umbrella ministries. Other information indicates that, outside of the post office box, IBLP no longer operates out of the Chicagoland area.
  3. ^ "IBLP: What We Do". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  4. ^ "IBLP History". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "Cult of Character" In These Times January 9, 2006
  6. ^ Pulliam, Bailey (March 7, 2014). "Conservative leader Bill Gothard resigns following abuse allegations". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  7. ^ Smith, Bryany (June 20, 2016). "The Cult Next Door". Chicago Magazine. Chicago, IL. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. ^ https://www.villageofhinsdale.org/departments/iblp_property_redevelopment.php
  9. ^ "The Cult Next Door". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Woman Speaks Out About Growing Up in a Strict Cult". www.ladbible.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Bryan (June 20, 2016). "The Cult Next Door". Chicago. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "'I broke away from a strict homeschooling community cult'". BBC. February 2, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Tracy, Jenna (June 1, 2015). "My childhood in a cult is hard to imagine - but my survival is truly unbelievable". The Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "The Fundamentalist Trap". The New Republic. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  15. ^ Menzie, Nicola. "Bill Gothard Quits Institute He Founded After Allegations of Rampant Sexual Harassment; Cites Bible Passage on 'Reconciliation'". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  16. ^ "Results of Bill Gothard Harassment Investigation Released". Christianity Today. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  17. ^ Gutowski, Christy. "More former followers of DuPage ministry allege abuse, harassment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "IBLP Basic Seminar". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  19. ^ "IBLP Advanced Seminar". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "IBLP Anger Resolution Seminar". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  21. ^ "IBLP Financial Freedom Seminar". Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  22. ^ https://iblp.org/about-iblp/what-we-do/prison-ministry
  23. ^ https://atii.org/
  24. ^ https://iblp.org/about-iblp/what-we-do/public-services
  25. ^ https://iblp.org/about-iblp/what-we-do/training-centers

External links[]

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