We
quote:
“Hi
there,
I
wanted to contact you in regard to the Vauxhall GPS meeting of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
…...
[Vauxhall
New Beginnings GPS: Thursday
Ashmole
Community Hall, 2 Meadow Rd SW8 1QB
Start
time: 20.00]
“Points
of alarm:
[Apparently
attendees are issued with raffle tickets after they have satisfied
the secretary as to their alcoholic credentials. This - or so it
would seem - then entitles them to share at the meeting if their
number is called??]
2.
The meeting began with something along the lines of 'can all
gentlemen please remove their hats as a sign of respect?' - something
along those lines.
3.
It was a speaker meeting and they had an actual PULPIT.
4.
As the secretary read out the script from the pulpit, then passed on
to the next person to do the preamble, reading or whatever, everyone
would clap and they would shake hands as they exchanged places at the
pulpit.
5.
Newcomers were told to stand and 'introduce themselves by the nature
of their illness' - humiliating and cringeworthy for anyone new to
the fellowship.
6.
The speaker's chair was typical of the 'Joys' style of recovery -
sweeping statements, and no real feelings!
I
was extremely disturbed by what I found at this meeting........ If I
had been a newcomer, and found myself at this meeting, it would have
confirmed my belief that AA is an outdated cult, with no real
relevance …...... in 2014.
I've
never heard of the GPS meetings and wondered if you had any insight?
….....”
(edited
to preserve anonymity)
Comment:
We would echo our correspondent's enquiry. Apart from the general
weirdness of what sounds like a religious ceremony (pulpits etc) what
the hell is a GPS meeting? Answers on a postcard to ….. And since
when has ANY alcoholic been required to identify themselves as such
to another member in order to speak at an AA meeting? When people
introduce themselves as “My name is … and I'm an alcoholic”
that is their choice and nobody elses!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
Our thanks to our correspondent
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