TO:    SENATOR GRANT IPSEN AND MEMBERS OF THE
          SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

RE:     REPEAL OF 54-3405A, I.C.

My name is Bob Compton and my address is HC 33, Box 1175, Boise, Idaho 83706.

Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I have already submitted a written document in support of HB 470 to all members of the Idaho Senate through Senator Danielson. Therefore, due to time limitations, I will only summarize that letter. Seven issues related to the American Association of Pastoral Counselors demonstrate that this organization resembles closely other associations of counseling psychology. Therefore, the license of Pastoral Counselor in Idaho suggests a Christian counselor when in fact the AAPC's orientation is predominately secular. The contradictions this license would precipitate are outlined. I request that this be entered into the committee's record.

I would like to address Item 7 of 54-3405A of Idaho Code which HB 470 would repeal. Item 7 reads:

"Each licensed Pastoral counselor shall adhere to the code of ethics of the American Counseling Association".

Adherence to this rule will lead to several insurmountable conflicts for a Christian counselor. Because of time I will cite only one. A. 5b - Personal Values of the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics states:

"Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and how these apply in a diverse society, and AVOID IMPOSING THEIR VALUES ON CLIENTS".

The Christian counselor's values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors are all harmonious with God's Word, the Bible. Additionally, the Bible and its precepts are the foundation for Christian counseling. Thus, the licensed Pastoral counselor, if he/she is a Christian, is in violation of the ACA's Code of Ethics if his/her counseling is based upon Biblical precepts. Idaho Code 54-3405A, creating the category of "licensed Pastoral counselor" is unnecessary because it is almost identical in fact to "licensed professional counselor".

Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I request that you vote in the affirmative for HB 470 and repeal 54-3405A from the Idaho Code.

Mr. Chairman, I would now be happy to answer any questions from the Committee.

TO: Representative Christian Zimmerman

FROM: Robert Compton, DVM, Ph.D.

RE: Evidence in Favor of HB470 to Repeal Section 54-3405 I.C.

My name is Bob Compton. I am a Christian, a servant of Jesus Christ. I am a veterinarian with a Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School at Madison with a major in Neurophysiology and a minor in Neuroanatomy. For two years of my university teaching career I taught Psychology.

I am writing in support of HB470 which would repeal Section 54-3405A, Idaho Code. There is much evidence to support the repeal of this licensure act, however I will share only the involvement of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors in the passage of bills which became 54-3405A. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors has been designated in Idaho Code 54-3405A to define the studies and requirements for pastoral licensure. My source of information is the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) web home page.

I will show the following:

1.The AAPC leans heavily, if not exclusively, toward psychological counseling rather than exclusively biblical counseling.

2.The AAPC infers that Pastors can be a threat to their congregations.

3.A major goal of the AAPC is to see that their members receive compensation from health insurance companies.

4.The AAPC suggests a division in the Pastors’ accountability.

5.AAPC’s success in achieving a licensure law in Idaho is one step closer to their goal of AAPC licensure in all 50 States.

6.AAPC claims that every American has a right to health insurance coverage for mental and emotional illnesses.

7.AAPC is committed to all the various theologies, traditions and values of faith communities.

The following comments are in reference to an AAPC statement found on their web home page entitled “Pastoral Counselor in Relationship with State Licensing”.

1.Under the main heading there is a subtitle in which AAPC describes themselves as -

“a national mental health resource”

In my opinion, their choice of the term “mental health” signifies that their foundational emphasis for counseling lies more with the psychological rather than with scripture. “Mental health” is strictly a psychological term without a scriptural counterpart. Additionally, within the field of secular psychology there is no agreement on a definition for positive or optimum mental health. Such a definition would require a framework of absolute moral values which is repugnant to psychology. Existing licensure laws for counseling psychologists, counseling etc. are adequate to cover “mental health / psychotherapeutic services”.

2. The first sentence reads:

“It has become obvious to most professional disciplines that professional identity and service specificity must be clarified and articulated to protect and serve the public.”

Since the topic of the AAPC homepage is State licensing of Pastoral Counselors, this statement infers that church congregations need State protection from counseling provided by their Pastors. Is this need a reality or a ploy to frighten people. The AAPC accepts a diversity of theologies and values, most of which are not Biblical. Since 86% of Americans claim Christianity, the AAPC licensing umbrella could mislead the public when seeking a Christian counselor. Additionally, this umbrella implies biblical counseling whereas this would be token at best.

3. The second paragraph begins:

“The managed care industry has, almost uniformly, decided to accept state licensing of professionals as the critical requirement by which to determine acceptance into managed care networks.”

I believe this “cuts to the chase” of the AAPC agenda, i.e. money. AAPC wants their Pastoral Counselors to be able to receive compensation from health insurance providers. However, State licensure is required before Health Insurance companies will honor a claim. State licensure of a term as misleading as “Pastoral Counselor” for the expressed purpose of qualifying for health insurance monies will lead to further muddled legislation and State intrusion into religion.

4a. The third paragraph starts out:

“Pastoral Counselors, because of their unique relationship to faith communities, have been in a confused position in relation to state regulation”

There has been nothing confusing about it. It has been black and white. Counseling provided by Pastors has not been regulated by the State.

4b. The paragraph continues:

“Except in 3 states as of 1993, a concern for the historical separation of church and state has made it difficult for most pastoral counselors to be licensed as Pastoral Counselors”

If Pastors wish compensation from health insurance companies, they need to qualify for existing secular licensing.

4c. The next sentence reads:

“At this point the majority of Pastoral Counselors are able only to be licensed by means of disciplines other than their own”.

I strongly believe this is the way it should be. Truly Biblical counselors would never choose state licensure. Those pastors who choose state licensure would counsel in modes reflective of the AAPC which is primarily psychological.

4d. The final sentence of this paragraph states:

“However, currently there is model legislation which wisely understands that while Pastoral Counselors are accountable to their faith groups for their theological, religious, or faith issues, they can also be fully accountable to the state for the quality of mental health/psychotherapy services they provide”

This is the most pivotal sentence on this particular home page. It boasts of the wisdom of the AAPC in developing a model which divides a Pastor’s accountability into two parts.

1. For theological, religious and faith issues the Pastor is accountable to his/her faith group.

2. For mental health/psychological services the Pastor will be accountable to the State.

The AAPC have clearly defined the counseling function of Pastors as secular and not biblical. I am confident this is satisfactory for them, but it isn’t for me. Psychology is based upon assumptions of naturalistic science which is atheistic and the polar opposite to biblical counseling which is based upon man’s condition and relationship to God as revealed in the Bible. Scripture clearly states that Christian Pastors cannot serve 2 masters, they must choose “whom they will serve”. Those who choose to be licensed can do so by licensure laws previously established for secular counselors and psychologists. Those who choose to counsel biblically can do so without licensure or intrusion from the State.

5. The fifth paragraph reads -

“At this point, the AAPC is in the process of developing a plan to promote state licensing of pastoral counseling nationally. Concurrently, Pastoral Counselors are informing the public, the various managed care systems, and those involved in the development of national health care proposals that, on behalf of the public, pastoral counseling is a national resource necessary for the public welfare and sought by public desire”.

The lobbying effort by the AAPC was successful in Idaho in 1997 with the passage of Senate Bill 1195aa. However, it is clear that those individuals most impacted by the bill, i.e. the Pastors and their congregations were carefully excluded from the informational efforts of the AAPC!! I think Christians need to ask themselves whether they would want counseling from members of an organization that promotes itself in this manner? I know I wouldn’t.

6. In their conclusion AAPC states:

“Pastoral counseling affirms that every American has the right to be covered for health care and that mental and emotional illness must be covered on the same basis and to the same extent as physical illness”.

This statement is an echo from the Clinton White house. What President Clinton and the AAPC do not understand is that there is no magic supply of money to fund such ambitious and ineffective health care plans. My health insurance premiums have already increased ten-fold over the last 20 years and we are still in a health care crisis. I for one say let’s “stop this madness”!!! All Christians need to “purpose in their hearts” to fill our churches with biblical precepts and Godly people. As stated by many of our founding fathers, the governance of this nation (and individual states) is possible only as long as its people hold strongly to Biblical principles.

7. From the Prologue of the AAPC Code of Ethics we read -

“As members of the AAPC, we are committed to the various theologies, traditions and values of our faith communities. . .”

America has a rich tradition of tolerance of religious belief. However, for a State to join with the AAPC in a licensing procedure will have grave consequences. “Commitment to various theologies” in a licensing setting is a commitment to the amalgamation of various theologies into one. Not only that, but to blend these theologies into the framework of psychology will result in a “mishmash” which does not clearly reflect the public perception of the title “Licensed Pastoral Counselor”.

Thank you for considering this evidence in support of HB470.

Robert W. Compton, DVM, Ph.D.
H.C. 33, Box 1175
Boise County
Boise, ID 83706