Bill Gothard

Bill Gothard (born 1934) founded the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), a massive evangelical parachurch organization based in Oak Brook, Illinois. His seminars were attended by tens of thousands of conservative Christian families nationwide and he was enormously influential in homeschooling and fundamentalist evangelical circles. His organization operated training centers across the country and was closely associated with the Duggar family of '19 Kids and Counting.' Since 2012, more than 30 women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against Gothard. Many victims were minors when the alleged abuse occurred. One woman was targeted beginning at age 15 when she went to work at IBLP headquarters. Another alleged Gothard raped her when she was approximately 17-18. Gothard would target young women for unwanted touching and suggestive comments, and would 'counsel' prior victims of sexual assault by subjecting them to unwanted touching and telling them they shared guilt for their own assault if they did not 'cry out to God.' In January 2016, ten women filed suit in DuPage County, Illinois, alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and inappropriate touching. Gothard was placed on administrative leave in 2014 and eventually stepped down from IBLP. The civil lawsuit was dismissed due to statute of limitations issues. In 2025, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a separate lawsuit alleging IBLP constitutes a 'cult that grooms girls to be available to sexual assault' can proceed. Gothard has denied all allegations.