Some suggested readings on sponsorship - the AA way!

• “Living Sober” chapter 11, - Availing yourself of a sponsor, pages 26-30
• “As Bill sees it” (pages listed for reading in the discussion reading guide, under “Sponsorship; see Twelfth- stepping”).
• The “Big Book”, Chapter 7, working with others.
• Questions and answers on sponsorship pamphlet, (not available in the GB literature anymore but can be viewed online at the USA GSO website, http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-15_Q&AonSpon.pdf
• Sponsorship your questions answered (GB pamphlet)
• Concept IX, last paragraph.-The AA Service Handbook for Great Britain, section 18-32, or The AA Service Manual combined with the Twelve Concepts for World Service
• “Blind trust?” – As Bill sees it, page 144. (something to avoid)
• “Newcomer problems”- As Bill sees it page 14.
• A.A. at a glance pamphlet, What A.A. does not do.
• A brief guide to Alcoholic Anonymous pamphlet, What A.A. does not do.
• Members of the Clergy ask about A.A. pamphlet, What does A.A. not do?
• Traditions One and Five. - the Twelve steps and Twelve Traditions
• “Tradition One”- Language of the Heart pages 76-77
• AA Tradition How it developed pamphlet
The following passages in inverted commas are composites of sentences taken from the above AA literature:

“In A.A., sponsor and sponsored meet as equals, just as Bill W. and Dr. Bob did.
It is the whole A.A. program,--not the individual’s sponsor that maintains the newcomer’s sobriety. We are always free to select another sponsor with whom we feel more comfortable, particularly if we believe this member will be more helpful to our growth in A.A. There is no superior class or caste of sponsors in A.A. First of all, we can relax and remember that sponsorship does not involve forcing any specific interpretation of A.A. upon newcomers”.

“An A.A. sponsor is not a professional caseworker or counselor of any sort. A sponsor is not someone to borrow money from, nor get clothes, jobs, or food from, A sponsor is not a medical expert, nor qualified to give religious, legal, domestic, or psychiatric advice, although a good sponsor is usually willing to discuss such matters confidentially and can often suggest where the appropriate professional assistance can be obtained. A sponsor is simply a sober alcoholic who can help solve only one problem: how to stay sober. And the sponsor has only one tool to use — personal experience, not scientific wisdom. A good sponsor never tries to impose personal views on a newcomer, nor gives advice on medical, legal or work matters. We help the newcomer find an appropriate source of information”.

“A good sponsor who is an atheist does not try to persuade a religious newcomer to abandon faith, nor does a religious sponsor argue theological matters with an agnostic newcomer. Does not pretend to know all the answers and does not keep up a pretense of being right all the time. Encourages and helps the newcomer to attend a variety of A.A. meetings—to get a number of view points and interpretations of the A.A. program. Never takes the newcomers inventory, except when asked. Never tries to impose personal views on the newcomer. Does not hesitate to help the newcomer obtain professional help (such as medical, legal, vocational) if assistance outside the scope of A.A. is needed”.

"In all work with the newcomer, the sponsor underscores the fact that it is the A.A. program—not the sponsors personality or position—that is important. Thus, the newcomer learns to lean on the program, not the sponsor. A sponsor who has truly been putting the program first will not take it as a personal insult if the newcomer decides to change sponsors or to go to other A.A.s for additional guidance. You are under no obligation ever to repay your sponsor in any way for helping you. He or she does so because helping others helps us to maintain our own sobriety”.

Note: The responsibility of any commitment and obligation falls on the A.A. sponsor and the AA group, not on the newcomer. As stated by Bill W.in 1946 (AA Tradition how it developed pamphlet page 12) “That is why we all judge the newcomer less and less. If alcohol is an uncontrollable problem to him and he wishes to do anything about it, that is enough for us. Our AA door stands wide open, and if he passes through it and commences to do anything at all about his problem, he is considered a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He signs nothing, agrees to nothing, promises nothing. We demand nothing. He joins us on his own say-so. Nowadays in most groups he doesn’t even have to admit he is an alcoholic.”

“We do suggest, but we don’t discipline.” (Bill W. Language of the Heart page 76)

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS It is interesting to observe that the cult method of sponsorship is the virtual antithesis of the above. We wonder why!