By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

It has been almost two months since I announced to my congregation that I was attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. No, I'm not an alcoholic. In fact, the amount of wine that I consume in a year (primarily at Holy Communion) wouldn't fill even one small bottle. And, for the record, I don't drink beer or any of the hard stuff. I do probably have an addiction to Diet Coke and a good carrot cake is my downfall.

As a part of the requirements for a doctoral course at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, I was required to attend several Twelve-Step meetings.

I was a bit nervous about attending my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. I had formed an opinion about A.A., based primarily on rumor and hearsay, but I really had very little firsthand information.

I had been told that people who attended A.A. tended to make it their church and that they depended upon some vague "higher power" to help them make it through the day sober. Others told me that people at A.A. meetings moaned and groaned about life, spewed forth copious amounts of profanity, and exchanged an addiction for alcohol to an addiction for tobacco. Even though I had never been to a meeting and had never read substantially about A.A., I had an opinion and it wasn't a positive one.

The first meeting I attended was a bit of a surprise. I had expected to encounter a spontaneous "group therapy" session of sorts. I came away feeling that the meeting was rather like a church meeting, sans music, with its own leaders, a liturgy, a time of giving, testimony, prayer, group encouragement, and a total acceptance of all present, regardless of their circumstance or status (the last element sadly missing in many, if not most, church congregations).

Clearly, I would have to re-think my former assumptions. No one moaned and groaned, there was no profanity, and no one smoked inside the building. My experience and impression was a positive one.

The second, third, and fourth meetings that I attended were at night in another town. Again there was a general absence of moaning and groaning and profanity. A few of the members smoked outside prior to the meeting.

Because of the confidentiality required of those who attend meetings, I can't reveal and names, specifics, or identities. In fact, I don't feel comfortable sharing any of the problems that members were sharing in the safety and security of the group. But I was moved by the compassion, dedication, and comittment that I observed in these meetings.

In fact, I felt that I was among some of the most courageous people I had ever met. Although I can't reveal details about the meetings, I did come away with my thoughts totally rearranged on the matter. Here's what I learned as a result of my brief firsthand experience with A.A.:

Twelve Steps groups, at least those I attended, were highly structured, almost church-like in their format.

Absolute honesty was encouraged and expected.

The response to problems voiced by members of the group was dealt with on a case by case basis, with a response appropriate to the situation.

Successes were shared and a common rejoicing occurred.

Failures were dealt with in a spirit of compassion and encouragement.

The group shared leadership.

Participants agreed to maintain the confidentiality of other members of the group.

Those who were enjoying several years of sobriety were available to help those who were struggling or those who were new to the group.

No one was expected to "go it alone," indeed, the group made it clear that one could not be successful without the help of the group and a mentor.

Essential accepted truths and dogma were reinforced meeting after meeting.

Spiritual development was seen as essential to success in every area, not just sobriety.

Newcomers were welcomed to the group with open arms.

People who had failed, and had been absent from the group for some time, were welcomed with open arms.

Many people who were in A.A., and not attending church, were absent from a house of worship because of the judgmentalism they had faced at other churches in the past. Many of them loved God; they just didn't feel loved by God's people.

The ritual of saying one's name, followed by one's condition, broke down the factor of pride and hastened identity with the group. Likewise, the response of the group, repeating the speaker's name, hastened and fostered a sense of community.

The act of rewarding sobriety with chips or a party in the presence of all served as powerful reinforcements.

Clear goals were stated: "Do not drink today." This made success or failure, at least on the subject of sobriety, easy to measure.

The act of holding hands during prayer fostered a sense of oneness and intimacy.

I found that I had greatly misjudged recovery groups and, in fact, came away from my experience impressed and believing that the Church could learn much from the Twelve Step programs. After sharing with my congregation about my involvement with A.A. groups, several individuals privately shared with me that they had been or currently were involved in recovery groups. My attendance at these groups actually opened doors of communication between several members of the parish and myself.

Currently, I am investigating the possibility of opening our facilities to various recovery groups, such as A.A., Overeaters Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, and so on. We are also considering how we, as a church, may alter our way of doing ministry so that we may, somehow, be as open, helpful, encouraging, and nonjudgmental as the groups I attended.

[David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Peachtree City. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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