There is a battle going on at my homegroup (where I am the secretary), if the clarity statement should be read or not. A few people identify themselves as addicts and alcoholics and others are turned off by this. At the last biz meeting a member made a motion to add the Clarity statement to our opening readings. It was voted in and now I am being blamed for letting it pass.
As the secretary I am only a trusted servant I do not govern. I facilitated the meeting, a motion was made, seconded, discussed and voted on.
I am curious what the original purpose of the Clarity statement is and if it is supposed to be read at meetings.
Welcome. We voted to read the clarity statement at our meetings a while ago. I am not a big fan of it, but others are, so I accept the group's decision. Basically, it is intended to encourage people to identify themselves as addicts in meetings and to focus on addiction rather as a disease rather than addiction to specific drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine. It doesn't bother me if someone introduces themselves as an "addict-alcoholic" or whatever, because we are all here in need of recovery.
BTW, people who are blaiming you need to catch a grip. You'r the secretary, not the dictator.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE 'program police" group autonomy will determine what your group reads or doesnt. There is some info in 10th and 11th traditions that says we are free to share in our own colorful words and share anything that affects our recoveries guidelines are(your stuff,not the program)not devisive to separate,your working in the solution etc.(SEE IT WORKS,HOW AND WHY ,TRADITION 10 AND 11...... ...When I attended our parent fellowship early in 84 when I GOT CLEAN BEFORE THE ROOMS OF NA,, you would have been tarred and feathered sharing as an addict.Some rooms I have attended also will stop you dead sharing as sober, or an ANDA...I dont attend meetings where there are other agenda's beside carrying our message of recovery(my stuff) I understand both sides and choose my own direction ,our homegroup doesnt use it, but my saturday group does(Salvation Army)We have been thru much discussion,not all spiritual here about this issue..If it aint spiritual ,it aint practical.not a bad guideline to adhere to huh?? peace.....
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
tell those apposed to attend a business meeting if they want to discuss there concerns or dissapproval...that is where it should be argued. i myself really care about my recovery and the clarity statement isant an issue. when i go to meetings im not there for those opening readings im there for the messages that come after....thats the stuff that keeps me clean along with my h/p.
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kelly lofquist
Dont stress over what couldve been, chances are if it shouldve been, it wouldve been...
Sarah, tell them to get a grip, as Dave said. We have the clarity statement, but it's labeled the "unity statement."
As read in our meeting: "In keeping with the steps and traditions of NA, we ask that you use NA language of recovery in all that you say in these meetings. We refer to our disease as addiction and we identify ourselves simply as addicts. This is not to be different that, better than, or controversial. This is done because in our first step, we've shifted the focus off of specific drugs and onto the recovery process, leaving us with a focus of unity."
Here's the kicker: "we ask"
There's no "you have to"s in this statement. We are just suggesting. We don't shun folks for not calling themselves addicts, but it's thrown in there as a "by the way this is why you hear folks calling themselves addicts."
We still have folks identify as alcoholics or ANDAs. We're just happy they show up at a meeting instead of showing up at the bar/dealer/pharmacy!
When women ask me to sponsor them, I discuss it a little further with them. Otherwise, I've learned to pick my battles.
The "unity" statement hasn't turned anyone away from meetings that I know of. As newcomers keep coming back, they realize, like me, that in the spirit of unity and anonymity, we're all a part of a bigger family whose last name is "addict."
The clarity statement is read at some of the meetings in my area. Doesn't seem to matter though. There are people who identify themselves as 'addicts and alcoholic' whether the statement is read or not. Kinda like announcing at the beginning of a meeting that "if you have used please refrain from sharing" Yeah...right.....
Understanding comes over time, and for some it seems never. Identifying as "addict and ....." is not just about unity. Identifying other than simply as an addict is redundant and demonstrates lack of understanding that the disease of addiction encompasses any and all mind altering substances regardless pills, powder, rock, crystal, leaf, liquid... doesn't matter. Kind of like saying my name's Mike and my name's Mike, redundant.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
