About Us

Founded in 2005, the Institute for Principle Studies is a Christian research and educational organization (a think-tank). 

Although there are hundreds of think-tanks, there are very few organizations performing research, analysis, and teaching from a biblical perspective.

IPS exists to fill this void.

The Institute for Principle Studies was founded in 2005 as a research and educational organization that provides a Christian alternative to the many well-established secular think-tanks.

Although there are hundreds of think-tanks, even some with a conservative perspective, there are very few organizations seeking to do research, analysis, and teaching from a biblical perspective.  

It is this void that the Institute for Principle Studies works to fill.

About Us - IPS logo

What We Do

Research

With precious few exceptions, the Christian community has retreated from intellectual rigor in its approach to difficult issues.  IPS fills this gap by providing biblically principled thought and the quality research necessary to support it.

Teach

IPS centralizes its instruction on principles relating to the three God-ordained institutions of family government, church government, and civil government. A heavy emphasis is also placed on teaching about the biblical basis for the free market economic system.

Train

Through speech and debate and small group discussions, IPS is preparing the next generation of leaders to be impactful advocates for Christ and liberty.  By equipping them with the dynamic skills of speech, logic,  reasoning and persuasion, these young leaders will be prepared to change the world no matter the challenges they face.

Train

Through speech and debate and small group discussions, IPS is preparing the next generation of leaders to be impactful advocates for Christ and liberty.  By equipping them with the dynamic skills of speech, logic,  reasoning and persuasion, these young leaders will be prepared to change the world no matter the challenges they face.

How We Do It

Classes,
Conferences,
& Seminars

IPS has a range of teaching formats and topics that are designed for adults and teens, and cover everything from evolution to elections and economics.  These programs expose students to a view of civics, history, and economics that cannot be found in the classroom or the media.

High School
Speech & Debate

Through the activity of academic debate, students gain an interest in government and public policy. Along with the invaluable skills of research, logic, and speaking, we work hard to expose these students to thinking that is both principled and biblical.

Teacher Education

The classroom of today is the world of tomorrow.  By reaching teachers, hundreds of students are reached in return.  Thus, training and influencing teachers is one way that we impact our world.

Pastoral Education

Since many of the principles that IPS teaches originate in the Bible, it is important that our churches be able to effectively teach these essential principles. By meeting with pastors, hosting classes and events insides churches, providing insight, and recommending materials, IPS helps pastors understand the biblical role of government.

Publishing &
Other Media

Through books, magazines, newsletters, curriculum, and the internet, IPS works to influence and educate our society and its leaders. Rather than producing copious amounts of sound-bites, IPS develops deep, well-reasoned materials that last.

Training Parents
& Home-Schooled Students

Change doesn’t begin in the White House, but in each individual’s house. Therefore, IPS continues to teach and support these dedicated families with seminars and materials.

Our...

Purpose

Transform society and change the world by restoring the God-ordained institutions of government to their proper roles.

Focus

Teach on the aspect of life that affects us all and greatly determines our temporal well-being:  government.

Strategy

Train citizens (especially Christians) to understand the proper role of government in the context of God’s design and purpose.

Goal

Change the hearts and minds of our countrymen to passionately pursue and understand the foundations of liberty.

Mission

Restore true ethics, limited government, free markets, and real liberty to our nation.

Vision

A free, virtuous, and prosperous society characterized by self-government and the rule of law.

Partner With Us

IPS has the right philosophy and the best strategy. All we really need are the resources to continue and expand this work. Join us in our efforts as we feverishly work to deal with the root causes of America’s decline.

Visit Contribute Page

History

The Institute for Principle Studies grew from a grassroots effort in Modesto, California, in the early 1990’s.

A local church decided to revamp its outreaches by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its ministries. A church-wide survey and dozens of member meetings produced a list of hundreds of suggestions for addressing unmet needs.

The need for instruction on how to apply biblical principles to matters of voting, citizenship, and government was one of the most frequently cited unmet needs in the church.

In response to these results, the church formed a team, which included Michael Winther, the future founder and current president of IPS, and tasked them with the objective of creating a course on the subject.

After ample trial, the result was a course that taught the principles, philosophy, and purpose of government from a Christian perspective.

Interest in this course material soon spread beyond the original church, which sparked a new ministry. Thus, in 2005, Mike Winther officially founded the Institute for Principle Studies to carry this work forward.

The Institute for Principle Studies grew from a grassroots effort in Modesto, California, in the early 1990’s.

A local church decided to revamp its outreaches by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its ministries. A church-wide survey and dozens of member meetings produced a list of hundreds of suggestions for addressing unmet needs.

The need for instruction on how to apply biblical principles to matters of voting, citizenship, and government was one of the most frequently cited unmet needs in the church.

In response to these results, the church formed a team, which included Michael Winther, the future founder and current president of IPS, and tasked them with the objective of creating a course on the subject.

After ample trial, the result was a course that taught the principles, philosophy, and purpose of government from a Christian perspective.

Interest in this course material soon spread beyond the original church, which sparked a new ministry. Thus, in 2005, Mike Winther officially founded the Institute for Principle Studies to carry this work forward.

Staff

Mike Winther - IPS President

Mike Winther

President
Carole McFarlane - IPS Director of Operations

Carole McFarlane

Director of Operations
Steven Butner - IPS Marketing & Development

Steven Butner

Marketing & Development

Mike Winther

President

Carole McFarlane

Director of Operations

Steven Butner

Marketing & Development

Board of Directors

Mike Winther - IPS Board of Directors

Mike Winther

Chairman
Tim Olney - IPS Board of Directors

Tim Olney

Vice President
Phil Olsson - IPS Board of Directors

Dr. Phil Olsson

Treasurer
Brian Eschen - IPS Board of Directors

Brian Eschen

Secretary

Mike Winther

Chairman

Tim Olney

Vice President

Dr. Phil Olsson

Treasurer

Brian Eschen

Secretary

Scholars Council

The IPS Scholars Council is an advisory body of people formally constituted to provide educational expertise and insight. Drawing from each member’s respective field, scholars assist the educational efforts of IPS by providing research, lecturing and writing articles. The advisory committee consists of scholars and experts in the academic fields of political science, economics, history, and theology.

Shawn Ritenour - IPS Board of Scholars

Dr. Shawn Ritenour

Grove City College
Marshall Foster - IPS Board of Scholars

Dr. Marshall Foster

World History Institute
Greg Rehmke - IPS Board of Scholars

Gregory Rehmke

Economic Thinking
Ninos Malek - IPS Board of Scholars

Dr. Ninos Malek

De Anza College

Dr. Shawn Ritenour

Grove City College

Dr. Marshall Foster

World History Institute

Gregory Rehmke

Economic Thinking

Dr. Ninos Malek

De Anza College

Statement of Faith

We Believe...

…that the Holy Scriptures, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are fully inspired by God and are therefore infallible in the original writings and completely trustworthy in all areas in which they speak.

…that there is only one eternal, almighty and perfect God.  Within the Being of this one true God exist three eternally distinct and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three Persons, also referred to as the Trinity, are the one true God.

…that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who took upon Himself human flesh through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary.  He who is true God became true man, uniting two natures in one person forever.  Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He now serves as our High Priest, our only Mediator.

…that the Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the Triune God, the Regenerator and Sanctifier of the redeemed, the Bestower of spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Advocate who empowers believers for godly living and service.

…that Adam was directly created without sin and in the image of God and did not evolve from preexisting forms of life.  Through the fall of Adam that image of God in humanity has been defiled, although not eradicated.  Every human being is radically corrupt and estranged from God.  Human beings are condemned by God because of their descent into sin through their relationship to Adam.  The desperate need of humanity is forgiveness of sins and consequent restoration of fellowship with God; yet humans remain totally unable to atone for and restore themselves.

…that Jesus’ death on the cross provided a substitutiary atonement for the sins of humanity.  We believe that man is justified (saved) by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works.

…in the existence of Satan and that hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for him, his host, and all unbelievers.

…that the Christian church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Corporately and individually, its members strive to worship, serve, and glorify God through prayer and praise, diligent study and application of the Scriptures, evangelism, sanctified living, good works, and observance of the rites of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The mission of the church is the discipleship of all nations – not only the saving of souls but also the bringing of the gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought.

…that the Holy Scriptures, comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are fully inspired by God and are therefore infallible in the original writings and completely trustworthy in all areas in which they speak.

…that there is only one eternal, almighty and perfect God.  Within the Being of this one true God exist three eternally distinct and coequal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three Persons, also referred to as the Trinity, are the one true God.

…that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, who took upon Himself human flesh through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary.  He who is true God became true man, uniting two natures in one person forever.  Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He now serves as our High Priest, our only Mediator.

…that the Holy Spirit is the eternal Third Person of the Triune God, the Regenerator and Sanctifier of the redeemed, the Bestower of spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Advocate who empowers believers for godly living and service.

…that Adam was directly created without sin and in the image of God and did not evolve from preexisting forms of life.  Through the fall of Adam that image of God in humanity has been defiled, although not eradicated.  Every human being is radically corrupt and estranged from God.  Human beings are condemned by God because of their descent into sin through their relationship to Adam.  The desperate need of humanity is forgiveness of sins and consequent restoration of fellowship with God; yet humans remain totally unable to atone for and restore themselves.

…that Jesus’ death on the cross provided a substitutiary atonement for the sins of humanity.  We believe that man is justified (saved) by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works.

…in the existence of Satan and that hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for him, his host, and all unbelievers.

…that the Christian church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Corporately and individually, its members strive to worship, serve, and glorify God through prayer and praise, diligent study and application of the Scriptures, evangelism, sanctified living, good works, and observance of the rites of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The mission of the church is the discipleship of all nations – not only the saving of souls but also the bringing of the gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought.