Bill Gothard

For more background on the Northwoods sex scandal with Bill and Steve Gothard, and how it was covered up, see these links:



"Bill pulled in two men from Bob Jones University—the administrative vice president and a BJU board member, Rev. [Wayne] Van Gelderen, to help confront the staff. The BJU delegation rebuked the staff, stating that 'a letter to pastors should not be sent out, and that it was wrong to inform the pastors and supporters of the Institute what was happening.' They explained that 'this kind of thing had happened also at the [Bob Jones] University and this is how they have always handled it there. . . .'

"Bill admitted to prior and ongoing knowledge of Steve’s immoral behavior, clarifying his direct responsibility for sending new young women employees to the Northwoods, where he knew they would likely be sexually targeted. He confessed that he had overlooked moral failures within his leadership in order to keep the ministry running smoothly. Bill admitted to physically and emotionally 'defrauding' several women, as well as being aware of the severe strain the secretaries had been under as a result of his refusal to address the issues sooner. Bill admitted that both he and his father had actively withheld the truth for the sake of the ministry. . . .

"As is often the case in fact versus fiction, what happened next was both anti-climactic and profoundly remarkable. John McLario abruptly resigned only seventeen days after assuming Institute leadership, reportedly to avoid dealing publicly with his own alleged sexual immorality. Bill Gothard was immediately reinstated to his previous position on the board."
 
For those who missed the article in the April 5, 1982 Los Angeles Times exposing Gothard's shenanigans, here it is. Most Gothard supporters never saw the article - the Internet did not exist back then.

This was right about the time when I was really getting sucked into the "IFB World!" There were a good number of Bill Gothard "Disciples" at my church and discussions about the latest "Bill Gothard Seminar" and I remember dring by a certain church marquee in Memphis that asked the question "Is Bill Gothard Right?" but I probably dismissed such as being a liberal Bible rejector or whatever. I knew little of Bill Gothard at that time other than reading the "Pineapple Story." No internet back then; just videos and literature you could get from others.

The so-called "Umbrella of God's Protection" was invoked upon me as I was parting ways with the "Model IFB Church" for the first time. I don't believe that Paul Chappell would claim any affilliation with Bill Gothard but seems this influence and mindset affected him nonetheless. I'm sure he likely got it from a second or third-hand source.

The big takeaway from all of this is that all of the legalistic "STAAAAAAAANDEEEEEEEEEEERDS" in the world will never equate to genuine personal holiness and Christ-likeness but I guess that the hysteric "Funny-Mental-ists" will never learn from their own history!:cry:
 
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