Yiewsley Tuesday 11.30 am (London South Middlesex Intergroup)

Our correspondent writes: 

“Yiewsley Tuesday 11.30am. This used to be a nice quiet little out of the way meeting which met in a small room at the back of a church...... It is now held in a little Chapel of the same church and, although … it would be stretching it to call it a cult, it has definitely gone off the rails. The secretary, and whoever is doing the chair, sits in front of the chapel altar which is decked out with elaborate altar cloths, upon which stand a crucifix and two candlesticks on either side. Against the crucifix is the Big Book and I think the book "Came To Believe" Against the left candlestick is the Serenity Prayer and against the right candlestick is a slogan “AA is a lifestyle not a turnstile” This is not an official AA slogan.. I googled [a well known tax avoidance company] the slogan and came up with this website 

https://sites.google.com/site/thebarnbangor/ 

Other literature is displayed on and around the altar. I have been told that there are now other non AA slogans displayed at this meeting. The meeting is an hour long – but the first 10 minutes or so is taken up with a tedious series of readings – the 3rd step prayer, the 7th Step prayer., the 11th step prayer, a reading from Daily reflections and a reading from the Big Book. There is a stained glass window at the back of the chapel with a representation of Christ. Behind this window is a light bulb and at the secretary's signal the light is switched on and the window is lit up. ”That's the Higher Power up there”, he says firmly. Then the speaker gets to share.. The sharing is mixed but there seems to be a large presence of the “I am a grateful RECOVERED alcoholic” brigade. And they have sponsors who "don't give suggestions" (implying they give orders instead). I was informed that these people used to attend a cult meeting in Harefield. But that meeting is now closed, and now they have come to Yiewsley and brought their slogans and “recovered” status with them. They also attend the Friday night Uxbridge meeting.

There is also a meeting in Ashford on a Friday night which has exactly the same prayer format but with lighted candles for lighting, and no church altar.”

(edits to preserve anonymity)

Comment: Apparently the AA preamble is read out at the beginning of the meeting. We can't think why! Here it is: 

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

They must have forgotten that bit! Easily done... after all this statement is only read out at the beginning of pretty well every AA meeting in Great Britain

(our emphasis)

We're going to take this opportunity to outline our own brand new 'public relations' policy. From now on in ALL cases where a group or even dare we say intergroup eg. Plymouth 'Road to Recovery' cult intergroup shows any signs of going “of the rails” as our correspondent puts it we'll be referring the matter to the relevant part of the service structure eg. intergroup, region, GSO and requesting they take appropriate action under Tradition Four (one of the most misquoted and certainly most misunderstood AA principles). We quote: 

“Four—Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole” (short form)

and 

“4.—With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. Group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount” (long form) 

Source: Alcoholics Anonymous, The AA Tradition 

We would argue that this Tradition places an obligation on groups to take full responsibility for their actions and where they fail to do so the onus falls upon other groups (eg. intergroup, region, AA nationally) to apply any corrective action. To this end written notifications of any breaches will automatically be sent to the relevant intergroup together with copies to the General Service Office in York. In more serious cases involving for example allegations of sexual predation, criminal activity, bullying/harassment etc the Trustees will also be formally notified as well as the police where an offence may have been committed. This will ensure that ignorance cannot be subsequently raised as a defence by those seeking to avoid their responsibilities. Moreover the Yellow card (confidentiality statement) may no longer be relied upon as a cover for collusion or complacency. Full disclosure will apply.

Where an intergroup is involved a request will be made for any response to include an indication of what ACTION has been taken. Where the intergroup fails to do so or indeed fails to respond (which in our experience is more often the case), and after a suitable time has elapsed (no more than two weeks), we will then contact – where appropriate - any relevant public agencies who have dealings with that intergroup eg. health trusts, probation services, treatment centres, landlords (of the property where the meeting is held) etc and update them accordingly. All of these owe a legal duty of care towards their clients and have a legitimate right to be informed of any abuses. We will invite these bodies to contact the intergroup (contact details will be supplied) for an explanation.

By these means we intend to apply pressure to the fellowship to clean up its act! Experience has shown that organisations which are largely self-regulating (or in AA's case virtually unregulated) and secretive will inevitably become corrupt. We intend to do our bit to reverse this process.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent