Series Overview: In late 2013, Bill Gothard requested that Tony G provide him with evidence of Gothard’s personal knowledge of wrongdoing related to the
Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (IBYC, now IBLP) scandal of 1980. Tony responded with meticulous detail, mailing Gothard a collection of 50+ documents that totaled about 140 pages, including the
“Agent of Satan” letter and Tony’s response.
Tony copied other relevant parties, including Recovering Grace, in order to follow through in calling Gothard to accountability. We formally agreed to hold this information in confidence to give Gothard and the Board reasonable time to take proper action. We privately referred to this collection as “the package,” in order to differentiate it from materials provided to us from other sources, and we used the information contained in these documents (along with our other sources) as reference for our scandal series in February, 2014.
It has been difficult for us to hold this information, realizing that it belongs to a much wider, equally interested audience. On the heels of the 1980’s scandal, Bill Gothard launched his Advanced Training Institute of America, ATIA (later ATII, now just ATI). Every family and student affected by Gothard’s ongoing ministry must feel deeply the fact that this information exists, most of which was methodically (and sometimes cruelly) pushed under the rug. How many families would have taken a pass on the “new approach to life” espoused by Gothard’s homeschool program in 1984, had they known what really happened just a few years earlier?
As much as we wished to share everything right away, we held onto the package out of respect for the “old guard,” the former IBYC staffers who wanted to give Bill one more chance to make 
things right. We held it out of respect for Tony, whose careful research uncovered the scandal back in 1980. We later learned that we were perhaps being too respectful, since Tony did after all share the package with us because he suspected it would need to be published at some point in the most recent accountability process. Following the disappointing lack of response from Gothard, we have been given freedom to share.
In the months that followed our receipt of the package, we have tried to share some of the information contained within without damaging individuals who have been hurt previously. We will continue to hold certain people and stories in confidence, whether from Tony’s package or from our many other sources. Those people will tell their own stories when they are ready.
However, we will now make the bulk of the package available as public record, along with follow-up writings. The timing of this release has been influenced by the time required of our volunteers to edit and format these materials, though we hope the holidays will provide time for study and reflection. In order to aid our readers, we have re-ordered the information into the following blog posts (links will be provided here as the articles are published):
The purpose of these documents and the correspondence that accompanied them, written by Tony, is a call for repentance—a full acknowledgement and confession of sin, the correction of the wrongs and damage done as God would provide direction and help, and a recovery of a clear conscience and a genuine faith by Bill Gothard. This process includes a call for the IBLP organization, especially its Board and management, to be a ministry above reproach.
Tony made painstaking effort to follow specific biblical teachings for dealing with error and ungodliness in the church of Jesus Christ. The topics are hard, but these documents and letters are a good illustration of “speaking the truth in love” as we are taught by God to be careful to do. (Ephesians 4:15; II Timothy 2:24-26).
We know our readers will see that Tony is persistent. We hope you will note that his persistence comes from a heart of genuine love throughout his writing, and expresses two clear emphases. Tony stresses the need to follow biblical teaching for dealing with this situation, and he repeatedly offers biblical encouragement and reassurance. We are grateful that he was willing to share his material via Recovering Grace, and we appreciate his patience with us as this story has taken over our lives, worn us to the quick, and inspired us to maintain our integrity and focus over the past year. We hope that our readers are able to find answers, closure, healing, and direction, wherever you are in your journey toward Grace and Truth.
Click here to view the original outline of the tabbed and indexed materials included in the package, titled “Request by Bill Gothard for Truth and Reconciliation, 2013-2014.”
The charges levelled against Bill Gothard in “the package,” along with supporting evidence, testimonies, and documentation, have been presented to Bill Gothard at least four times:
1. This information was first presented to Gothard one-on-one, in private, on several occasions in April through July of 1980.
2. This evidence was presented again to the Board of Directors of IBYC, with Gothard in attendance, during a twelve hour Board meeting on July 5, 1980. After the presentation, that Board terminated him as President of IBYC and from membership on the Board of Directors.
3. These materials were again presented in a forty hour deposition to the law firm employed by Gothard in 1981. During deposition, a team of attorneys examined Tony and each of these details, thereby obtaining a complete copy of all the supporting detail and documentation.
4. In October through December of 2013, as reported in the “Agent of Satan” article, Bill Gothard took the initiative to telephone Tony twice and to write him four letters requesting detail and documentation on two serious topics of inquiry Gothard had on his mind. (Tony had not previously initiated any communications with Gothard in about 33 years, since approximately 1981.) Gothard indicated what seemed at the time to be a sincere desire to seek truth and reconciliation. Tony then prepared and sent the requested package.
Response to the Package
Gothard did not respond to or follow up with Tony after receipt of the package. Thus, on December 30, 2013, Tony sent complete copies of the package to the individual members of the IBLP Boards of Directors and Advisors, as listed on IBLP’s website at the time, and listed below; the pastor and individual staff and elders of LaGrange Bible Church (LBC, Gothard’s former home church); Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA, an association of which LBC is a member); Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc.; and Recovering Grace.
Tony reports that there has been little response of substance from Bill Gothard (other than the spreading of rumors about Tony and other former staff) and none at all from the IBLP Board of Directors regarding these materials.
-There has been no direct inquiry into the matter by IBLP internal investigator David Gibbs, Jr.
-There has been no complaint regarding the materials in general.
-There has been no statement that any detail or fact is in error.
-There has been no rebuttal to the outline of specific biblical disqualifications of Bill Gothard, or of the supporting evidence provided.
-There has been no effort made to respond to Tony’s repeated invitations to meet privately to address each of these charges and work to put in place a biblical solution.
-There has been no protest from Gothard, the IBLP Board of Directors, or LaGrange Bible Church regarding the several notices that this evidence would be presented to the public, as a warning to the wide church of Jesus Christ per the instructions of scripture.
Tony has implored all ministerial parties to consult with God and His Word as spiritually qualified Overseers are expected to do. We ought to all pray together that this IBLP Board would heed the warnings of Scripture on this issue—to follow, fully and quickly, the clear instructions of God’s holy Word. God’s Word is clear enough.
History of Communication with Bill Gothard
People may ask: Have any believers, ministers, or prophets of God ever made a genuine effort to bring these charges and evidence to Bill Gothard, per the instructions of Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:10-20? Yes. Tony is but one example.
LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS TO GOTHARD
11.11.13 Correspondence with Gothard beginning 10/10/13
12.30.13 Cover letter sent with 140 pages
12.30.13 “History of Attempts to Confront Bill Gothard Regarding Disqualifications from Ministry” (now updated to include events to-date in 2014)
Follow-up letters after “the package”:
1.6.14 Judgments
1.10.14 First Steps*
1.11.14 Request for Resignations
1.28.14 False Witness
2.10.14 Board Qualifications +2 pieces (McLario, Stancil)
2.10.14 John McLario
2.10.14 John Stancil
4.25.14 Cease Alliance with Egypt (David Gibbs, Jr.)
5.2.14 BG response to Egypt (with Tony’s reply)
* Many have wondered, “How would anyone know if Bill Gothard’s repentance is genuine?” A number of the 1980 IBYC staff asked Tony to outline what specific actions Gothard could take to demonstrate genuine godly sorrow and, in practical ways that could be carried out, to begin to make right all the ruin that he caused in Tony’s life. On Dec. 1, 2008, in Bill Gothard and Gary Smalley’s call to Tony, Gothard asked the same question, “What would it take for us to reconcile?”
Tony put those “First Steps” into a letter to Gothard so that Gothard would have opportunity and invitation to pursue reconciliation, first with God and then with man (Psalm 50:6-17).
In addition to past attempts, Recovering Grace continues to receive testimony and documentation regarding Matthew 18 approaches to Gothard. With his continued rebellion and obfuscation by the IBLP Board, this situation has surpassed scriptural benchmarks:
Matthew 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
I Timothy 5:20 “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.”
Ephesians 5:11 “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…”
If and when the IBLP Board of Directors, and Bill Gothard himself, would repent before a holy God and acknowledge these and other related sins and damage done, these charges and their evidence will guide them to at least a few places where they can begin to demonstrate godly sorrow and the fruits of repentance described in II Corinthians 7:8-12.
Many are praying for Gothard and IBLP in one way or another. Tony has found it helpful to review this short summary (from the package) of “True Biblical Repentance.” (Survey of II Corinthians 7 and James 3). A future update with any response by Gothard to Tony and “the package” will be provided in a separate blog post.
History of Communication with the IBLP Board
Tony copied the package to the Board, saying, “The charges outstanding against Bill Gothard directly implicate the IBLP Board and its participation in the cover up of these charges and prevention of their being addressed biblically. The Institute ministry is affected because materials authored by a fully disqualified man are the core of what is being distributed and taught by the IBLP organization.”
“The IBLP Board must be asked to make public their new commitment to recruit and maintain only Board members who qualify biblically as Overseers. They must acknowledge to the public their violation of that in the naming as Board members previous men who the Board had not vetted for their clear disqualifications and which men have brought on untold damage and confusion in a ministry that needed rather godly men with proven courage to deal with sin and wrongs in every form under their direct responsibility and oversight.”
We include responses to-date from the few individuals who responded to Tony after they received the package.
History of Communication with LaGrange Bible Church
Why did Tony copy the package to LaGrange Bible Church? Tony’s explanations are:
1. The Chairman of the IBLP Board and the Senior Pastor of the LaGrange Bible Church both signed and endorsed Bill Gothard’s 19-page letter describing Tony as “an agent of Satan.” Tony was asking all three signing parties to consider their violation of the teachings of Christ and to recant publicly this bearing of false witness via that letter distributed around the nation.
2. The purpose of the materials, “Request by Bill Gothard for Truth and Reconciliation, 2013-2014,” along with the several letters which accompanied and followed these materials, were to implore the Board of IBLP and the Elders of the LaGrange Bible Church to join the work of addressing each of these charges so that very soon God would be glorified by a full confession of sin and a new commitment to correctly present the good news of the Gospel for every believer, and become clean of all outstanding charges against the organization and against Gothard personally.
The Scriptures are clear that, in the last days, every local church will be faced with sorting through winds of doctrine, and in some cases wolves in sheep clothing that come into their fellowship. Much deception of the saints will be attempted by the enemy of the Church. How each local church fares will depend on the spiritual alertness of the congregation and its Elders and Pastors, their commitment to pure doctrine, the simplicity of their devotion to Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 11:1-4; 10:4-6), and their readiness to bring disobedience to God’s Word by any in their fellowship to a hearing, first privately, and as needed to a public review.
The LaGrange Bible Church has had opportunity for the past 34 years to do just that, with many pleadings by ministers and representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have, to this date, rejected every effort and every request for their help in fulfilling their biblical responsibilities.
These charges continue to stand against Bill Gothard today because he has defrauded the authority of his local church. Thus, the charges have never been properly heard by the authority established over him by God’s Word.
We join Tony in his prayer that this information will serve the purposes God has in the publishing of such warnings to His church. That we would all soberly fear a repeat of these sins: redefining, adding to, and taking away from God’s Holy Word; introducing the idolatry of religious form and practice that competes with the preeminence of Jesus Christ; offering alternative programs and formulas to the promises and provisions that are exclusively from Jesus Christ alone; presenting novel philosophies, traditions, and commandments and precepts of mere men instead of relying wholly on the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ and His life which is ours by our faith relationship with Him.
He alone, “Jesus Christ who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written, Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:30-31
Image copyright: kchung / 123RF Stock Photo
August 21, 2020
43 Comments