Lots of churches do see me as a chilling presence or someone they are spiritually obligated to evangelize to.
I guess my point is that conferences like that present an opportunity to do more than chill with your presence or soak their ineffective evangelization.
The discussions in a church are more "I need help" or "I have doubts" and then the pastor or priest throws out something witty or charming or passingly empathetic that will help someone who just wants to be seen as having concerns by someone they respect highly.
Seminars like this are a different breed. The people attending are
expected to be obedient sponges who only ask questions asked by the ignorant or the believer.
If you disrupt that, you're going to find yourself "managed" in a way a pastor won't manage you. The wagons will circle.
Instead of having the scientologist give you the tour and show you the e-meter, you'll just get a cell phone camera in your face while people shout "WHAT ARE YOUR CRIMES".
The program is different at things like this because you aren't just "the lost" there, you are an active enemy. Because of this, the philosophy has to be different too, because they don't just not expect to be challenged there, they are there to feel challenging to others, and they are running the event for that purpose.
They will eject you if you push too hard against the purpose of the event, which is equal parts attempting to spawn the next WLC, Ken Ham, or whoever, and to give them all and opportunity to circle-jerk and feel smart.
If you open your mouth and are unprepared, you will be recorded and added to a gag reel that they play when of atheists they have tripped up. I've seen these and they're not pretty. They're also edited to remove any parts where you embarrass them.
Between 1/3 and 2/3 of them are supremely dishonest people, and are there to
feel justified in belief that their mere belief justifies freedom from guilt. Vanishingly few are going to be capable of doubt and this kind of seminar of people gathered to eschew doubt together.
As such, it is just not worth it to argue the atheist position there. They are there to listen to straw-men of you, not to listen to you. And to watch their idols tear apart those straw men. And to not have to actually be challenged.
Take notes, and stay out of the way of that much ego. Pay attention and then use what you learn to preemptively tie a rope around their neck, make them agree to tie it even, before you let them know you are there to chase.