I am not a member of AA. I attended an open meeting awards night. Here are some observations I think churches should pay attention to. Medallions were given for periods of sobriety. The longest recognized was 48 years. Several for 40+ years were recognized. A number of 1 month medallions were given.
Future Church may want to incorporate some of these
1. Focus was not on Salvation in distant future but on the past (celebrate) and today. Primarily today!
2. Attitude was open and confessional.
3. Everyone was very supportive of one another with a lot of clapping, cheering, and crying. Even a little hooting.
4. There was a lot of group support but also Individual-based support. Each person chooses a sponsor who gives one-on-one advice and guidance. The sponsor is available 24/7. Member is expected to contact their sponsor minimally weekly.
5. Atmosphere was natural, themselves, little self concealment of past, or future. Raw.
6. Lots of thanks for support
7 Teachings are life lessons of what they have learned from one another based on 12 steps. If you never have read the first 3 or so of the 12 steps you need to do so.
8. A lot of love, celebration and hugs
9. Little Organization to support. Leaders from within on a minimal level. No reference was made of the needs of the organization.
10. Emphasis on service.
11. Teachers are those who have been there, done that, got over/through it.
12. All give the attitude that they are still still struggling and admit it.
13. First statement of speakers, Hi I’m an alcoholic— admitting I’m a sinner and need help right up until today.
14. Often references were made that the individual could not succeed without the support of the group and sponsor.
15. Attendance is voluntary but newcomers often attend daily when struggling. Many after years of sobriety attend several times a week. Often heard is the phrase, “I need to go to a meeting”.
16. Failures are treated as learning experiences more than failures. One person came for a one-month medallion with the words, this is the 3rd one of these I have received. I am starting down this road again. They received as many claps and cheers as the people receiving medallions for far longer periods.
17. Virtually no emphasis on a personality leader.
In my opinion #1 is very significant. The church approaches Salvation as when you die. To them salvation is staying sober today. Our approach is Heaven when you die. Their approach is about the here and now. What if we could change Christianity to Salvation from this present dark age that extends into eternity?
2. In Church we tend to hide our failures and humanity. Failures are often topics of gossip and/or rejection.
3. Guidance and teachings are from real-life lessons in a person’s experience not “book” ideas. This is evidenced in 6, 14, 7 & 11
4. It is amazing that things function without a lot of organization and committees. #9