Sponsorship in aa with the big book

What the big book really says by jay westbrook on december 29, 2014 in living in recovery, living with addiction alcoholics anonymous, and the myriad of other 12step programs, can be invaluable to the recovering alcoholic or addict. In the big book, as the text alcoholics anonymous is known, we read the written words of the first 100 men and women of aa as they were put in the way of a. Many recovering alcoholics work the 12 steps with a sponsor. Studying the steps is not the same as taking the steps. And in this respect i believe the sponsor system superior to traditional therapy. This was during the period when the big book was written to spread their message of recovery to other alcoholics. Each estimate includes a thorough reading and study of the source material and a complete path through.

I felt a need to formally work the steps and did with help from 12 step. Twelve step sponsorshipits opportunities and its responsibilities. A sponsee might also have sponsor assigned tasks to complete, such as checking in via phone periodically or reading chapters of the big book and reporting back with key findings to discuss. Sponsorship in aa 6 characteristics of a good sponsor. Essentially, all 91 delegates raised their hands in assent. This sober oldtimer composed this with the help of a sponsee. I was scared to ask someone to sponsor me, so i put off getting one. Sponsor in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. My second sponsor took me through the first three steps and was with.

It is a jokey reference that goes back to aas humble beginnings. These are some of the best tapes i have, and one of my personal favorites. Confidence restored, i proceeded full speed ahead and the vital big book message was successfully carried. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Alcoholics anonymous how to be an effective sponsor in recovery with aa kindle edition by anonymous guest. This is the workbook edition of the sponsor s 12 step manual. Confessions of a big book sponsor big book sponsorship. 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 recov er from alcoholism. Big book sponsorship was a style of aa unique to cleveland at that time, and has since become a vocal minority movement within the fellowship. Selecting a sponsor is a vital part of the 12step recovery journey and, for many, a key to maintaining sobriety. Aa big book didnt mention sponsorship, and there were no books written about it. If sponsor is a person who the newcomer must call daily and meet with regularly, and who dictates what meetings should be attended, how and when to eat, pray, etc.

If you do not know the meaning of a word, just doubleclick left mouse button directly on the word and a. Experience, availability and trustworthiness are among the traits to consider when choosing a sponsor. The process includes believing in a power greater than yourself, admitting past mistakes, making amends to people you have harmed through alcoholism and continuing to focus on spiritual growth. In that relationship, a sponsee might meet with a sponsor either before or after a meeting, in order to learn about expectations and responsibilities. Nowhere in the big book or any of the orignial aa literature does it say anything about men only helping men and women only helping women. Abolish sponsorship from alcoholics anonymous gopetition. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Take all 12 steps in just 4 hours download this aa big book step guide and work book.

Sponsorship in aa 6 characteristics of a good sponsor discovery. A sponsor is an experienced member of alcoholics anonymous who is using the 12 steps of aa successfully on a daytoday basis. With no financial resources, big hopes were placed on sales of the big book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. While this is a nice ideal in theory, in reality the relationship is inherently unequal, particularly in relation to newcomers, who are often emotionally and psychologically vulnerable when they. Your response is typical of the narrowmindedness of some members of a. The 12 and 12 approach will take approximately 20 sponsorship meetings.

I dont know that george ever formally worked the steps but he lived the steps. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alcoholics anonymous how to be an effective sponsor in recovery with aa. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the sponsors 12 step manual. Since, i have only one authority as an active sponsor. He encouraged me to get involved in all of aagroup, intergroup and general service. When the book was published in 1939 the aa fellowship was small and struggling. An aa sponsor is a person who has been abstinent for a long period and who is prepared to support a newly abstinent member. It will, however, find all the forms of the word alcohol in their context. A guide to teaching and learning the program of aa. Clarence gave me a copy of the manuscript of the big book we had to. The big book says we are all friends sharing our experience strength and hope and there are clear responsibilities outlined on page 97 for being a friend in aa. The role of the big book sponsor is to teach the newcomer how to work a twelve step program and show them how teach other newcomers to do the same.

Sponsoring via the big book aa history alcoholics anonymous. Its just a psudorule made up by people who think they know better than the orignal aa founders. Where does it say anything in the big book that you. Terry o on is it ok to use nonconference approved literature in meetings. But finding the right sponsor is critical to the success of the relationship. Literature questions and answers on sponsorship p15 questions and answers on sponsorship uses shared a. I practice the 12 step program as outlined in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, the original recipe for recovery as practiced by the original 100 who recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Chapter 7 working with others p ractical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. The big book lays out the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous and includes personal stories of those who found recovery in the program. Its not about being sponsoredits about sponsoring others that is a predictor for recovery. Being a historyminded sort of guy, i have spent many years studying the ingredients and suggestions of the aa program.

Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. General service conferenceapproved literature reflects the group conscience of the fellowship of a. Alcoholics anonymous how to be an effective sponsor in. The sponsor provides support, encouragement and a listening ear to the aa newcomer while sharing his or her experience with the alcohol recovery program. Daily reflections, a compilation of spiritual reflections contributed by members. The combined approach will take approximately 40 sponsorship meetings. Big book sponsors also tend to place greater emphasis upon the spiritual aspects of the aa program. My current sponsor has become one of those lifelong friends which the big book says we will make in aa.

Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. Sponsorship in aa 6 characteristics of a good sponsor i reached out to an oldtimer in alcoholics anonymous, and asked for his worksheet on sponsorship. In relation to the rest of aa today, big book sponsorship tends to be more conservative. The sponsorship idea is an integral part of the alcoholics anonymous set up, and part of its social support network. If you note the subject of this website, its about big book sponsorship and its application to any and all addictions. Big book sponsors claim a place of priority for alcoholics anonymous and often reject other works, including aa approved literature, as inadequate deviations from the original. As a matter of fact, the word sponsor does not come up in the big book until page 220, and that sponsor never got sober, dying as a drunk. Explaining the roles of sponsor and sponsee sunrise house.

The aa leaflet on sponsorship states that the sponsor sponsee relationship is one of equals, and that the sponsor has no authority over the sponsee. In meetings hosted by a network of big book sponsors, one is likely to hear a great deal about god and how god has transformed the lives of those who have worked the twelve steps as they are laid out in the big book. Big book sponsorship 12 step recovery from any and all. An independent guide to teaching and learning the program of a. Because of this, the search will not answer how many times is alcohol used in the big book. Scott peck wrote, there is something of a tradition in 12 step programmes that it is ok to outgrow your sponsor. The support and stimulus of working the steps with a buddy, a sponsor, or both, leads to personal growth and change.

The guide applies established educational techniques blooms taxonomy to developing an understanding of the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous. There is some discussion about working with a sponsor in the 12 and 12, but the text in the big book seems to have been based on the assumption that the reader had probably not come into contact with other members of the fellowship yet, and would probably have to do what bill and bob had done to build a fellowship around themselves. Each member of alcoholics anonymous is a potential sponsor of a new member and should clearly recognize the obligations and duties of such responsibility. How to find the right aa sponsor for achieving sobriety.