Claire and I were pleased to have been present once again for the annual conference of the American Chesterton Society in St. Paul, Minnesota. The "road trip" up and back with good friends Quint and Carol Coppi and Chet Thomas was a substantial part of our enjoyment but the conference itself gave us plenty of useful information, spiritual stimulation and the sheer pleasure of fellowship around our common interest in one of the 20th Century's most brilliant writers, G.K. Chesterton.The free conference (no, that's not a misprint; the annual ACS conference is a free 3-day event) always presents a mixed bag of speakers. For instance, some concentrate on Chesterton and his work while others tend to explore tangential topics. Some presentations are quite scholarly while others use a lighter touch. University professors and professional writers take the stand for some ACS sessions while others come from a delightful assortment of amateurs. And while there do appear the occasional "clunkers" (that's hardly surprising), the sessions usually are rich in relevance, creativity and insight.
So, whether you're an "old hand" at Chestertonian studies, a more recent enthusiast, or simply someone who understands the need to redeem modern culture by learning more about and promoting excellent writers like G.K. Chesterton, you'll find the ACS conference a very useful (and very fun) happening. We'd love to meet you there next year.
For more information on the American Chesterton Society, including the availability of tapes from this year's event, check out their website right here.
