Institute in Basic Life Principles

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). From its inception until around 2015, IBLP was headquartered in the Chicago area, after which, according to Chicago Magazine, it relocated its headquarters to a facility east of the small East Texas town of Big Sandy, Texas.[4]

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.[5]

In 1979 IBLP bought a Learjet.[4] In 2006, In These Times reported the IBLP earned US$63 million (equivalent to about $91 million in 2022).[6] IBLP no longer posts financial information on its website and its IRS Form 990 information is no longer public.

In 2008 the rise to celebrity status of one group of IBLP followers, the Duggar family, through the TLC series 17 Kids and Counting, brought a new wave of interest in the organization and its teachings.[7]

From 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 Gothard and IBLP.[8] The controversy led to Gothard resigning in 2014, though not admitting to anything more than "a violation of trust"; IBLP's Board would accept his resignation, but after their own investigation concluded that Gothard had "has acted in an inappropriate manner" and therefore was "not permitted to serve in any counseling, leadership, or Board role within the IBLP ministry".[9] Since that time, Gothard has not been involved in any manner within IBLP, and the organization's website only mentions him in its historical section.

In addition to adherence to the Bible and their idea of Christian ideals, the IBLP considers men, in particular the patriarch of a family, to be superior, whereas women 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 good wives and mothers, and to birth and raise children for the IBLP men chosen by the women's fathers to be their husbands; couples are matched after a complex courtship overseen by both sets of parents. Women are not allowed to date or flirt, and all attempts at flirting, as well as wearing makeup, perfume, nail polish and high heels, are seen as lustful. Women are also discouraged from attaining higher education. Some of Gothard's personal secretaries were allowed to wear red nail polish and heels.[4]

The consumption of media, such as television, movies, most music and the internet, is not allowed, though non-contemporary Christian music is accepted. All music which features syncopation is banned. Dancing is not allowed, and the consumption of alcohol is also banned.[4]

Women are expected to wear ankle-length dresses and to never cut their hair; the presence of text printed onto dresses is not allowed, as it is thought to bring attention to the body. Men are expected to wear dark suits and white shirts, and blue jeans are seen as ungodly. Men are also expected to be circumcised, as being uncircumcised is seen as being unpure.[4]

Children are homeschooled,[10] and do not often leave the complex, if at all. Certain toys such as Cabbage patch dolls are forbidden.[4] Sexual education is not part of IBLP teachings, leading some children and teens to not understand what sexual assault is, and the practice of not teaching sexual education has been criticised by adults who have since left the IBLP and struggle with relationships. The Bible is read daily, and everyone is expected to spend time meditating on its messages.

Children are taught to obey God's message and the rules of their fathers, and that violation of this leads to bad consequences, such as contracting a cold. According to Chicago Magazine "Real-world consequences at IBLP included scoldings, intense counseling, demotions, and even being kicked out altogether."

IBLP endorsed the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl on physical discipline.[11]

[24]

• Tim Levendusky, President
• Gil Bates, Board Member
• David York, Board Member
• John Bechtle, Board Member

IBLP once maintained a number of facilities around the United States. However, as of August 2023, the only United States facilities shown are the organization's headquarters in Texas, a retreat center on 3,000 acres near Watersmeet, Michigan,[4] and a post office box in Conway, Arkansas for its prison ministry. IBLP also lists several locations (some of which are mailing facilities only) in various countries worldwide.[25]

Their former headquarters was a 223-acre compound in Hinsdale, the hometown of Gothard (though it would prominently feature its "Box One, Oak Brook, Illinois" mailing address on its promotional materials). At its peak the Hinsdale headquarters had 200 to 300 staffers. Staffers were housed in nearby buildings owned by the organization. In the 1980s and 1990s IBLP repeatedly proposed expansions of their presence in Hinsdale with office buildings, dozens of houses, and a hotel but was unable to do so due to community opposition.

In 2000 David Green, President of Hobby Lobby, purchased the former Texas campus of Ambassador College located east of Big Sandy, Texas, and subsequently leased the facility to IBLP. The facility would initially house the ALERT program due to its size and location away from heavily populated areas. However, after Gothard's resignation in 2014, due in large part to declining financial support resulting from the numerous scandals surrounding IBLP, the organization would relocate its headquarters and the majority of its remaining operations to the Texas facility, and no longer has any operations in the Chicago area.

A number of former adherents of IBLP programmes have described the organization and/or associated circles as a cult.[4][26][27] 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".[4]

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.[28] According to accounts reported by Midwest Christian Outreach founders Ron and Joy Veinot (in their book A Matter of Basic Principles), the board recommended that Bill (who also admitted to sexual misconduct) resign from the board, which he did, only to take advantage of an ensuing power struggle to regain his position and control of IBLP, thereafter filling board positions with people absolutely loyal to him.

In 2014, Gothard resigned as President of IBLP after reports that he had once again 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,[29] 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 board concluded he did not act "criminally" but did act "inappropriately", and (notwithstanding their loyalty to Gothard) notified him that he was permanently disqualified from returning to the organization in any capacity.[30][31]

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." "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."[32] 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, due to statute of limitations.

Amazon Prime Video debuted the limited series Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets in June 2023. The series centers on the Duggar family's connections with the IBLP.[33][7][34]

• Official website