The majority were practicing counselors psychologists, ministers, crisis pregnancy center staff, etc. A well-orchestrated showcase for polished pandering and canned charisma, the event brought the likes of James Dobson, Bill Bennett, Kay James, and Phil Gramm to center stage. Enthusiastic and eager, many attendees told me they were drawn by the opportunity to experience the affirming camaraderie of like-minded Christians. As mental health professionals, AACC members are out to convince believers and non-believers alike that the path to emotional health is to be found in finding Christ.
Christian counselors have the other half.
The consensus, underscored at every rhetorical turn, was painfully familiar. Participants chose from over 100 workshops conducted on such topics as sexuality, contemporary Christian thought, and social issues. Most seminars were strategy sessions for strong marriages and God-centered families. I scribbled lots of notes, intent to share Religious Right secrets with my progressive friends who are ill-informed about practical applications of moral absolutism. As the days went on, a subtext of Christian militancy reared its spite-filled head.