Questions and Answers on Sponsorship (contd)

The AA (General Service conference approved) booklet: Questions and Answers on Sponsorship

Extract:

“How can a sponsor explain the A.A. program?

Sponsors will want to explain A.A. in the manner that each finds most natural and most likely to be clear to the newcomer at hand.

Some sponsors find that reminding the newcomer of the First Step — that they are powerless over alcohol and that their lives had become unmanageable — is key to a successful recovery. Many sponsors make it a point to emphasize that together they can do what they could not do alone — stay away from the first drink.

These sponsors remind the newcomer that A.A. offers a practical program, and that it has already helped more than two million men and women. They suggest the need for openmindedness in facing alcoholism as a personal problem, and they underscore the fact that it is up to the newcomer alone to decide whether he or she is an alcoholic and whether A.A. can help.

Nearly all members who work with newcomers look upon the A.A. program in terms of their own experience. They tell the new person that no one speaks for A.A. and that every member is perfectly free to arrive at an individual understanding of the program.

Some sponsors talk about the program in a more spiritual way than others do. But nearly all call attention to the source of strength to be found in “a Power greater than ourselves.” Again, the sponsor points out, it is up to the newcomer to determine what that A.A. phrase means. It expresses an idea that people of many faiths — or of no particular faith — can and do accept with complete harmony.”

(our emphases)

Comment: Again it is noticeable how far this approach differs from that adopted by cult sponsors. In their hands the AA message is reduced to mere rote, mechanically delivered, and with complete disregard for the individual circumstances of the sponsee. The latter are 'churned' through the 'cloning' system regardless of whether this is appropriate or even effective for them. Those who do survive the process then go on to replicate this with their own batch of 'prospects'. It's always interesting to observe the complete lack of originality or even individuality in their sharing especially when they're 'performing' to the gallery (and sponsor) at their home group. Here they have the opportunity to hone their 'script', the more adept going on to join the ever-growing ranks of 'circuit speakers', Big Book 'experts', 'gurus' and all-round 'snake oil purveyors' who thrive only when they are the centre of attention. Concerning Step Three they remain completely ignorant.

Remember: a sponsor is not essential to recovery. And NO sponsorship is better by far than BAD sponsorship!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(to be continued)