Well of course group conscience is the way to go.
I support your decision to attend the business meeting and be counted.
As for bible passages and other religious references at our meetings,
the literature is very clear. They are outside issues (tradition 10) and should be treated as such.
In this era of political correctness and being terrified of offending there has been
a great loosening of the boundaries being set at many meetings. While I understand
the "inclusion" sentiment, NA is not a religion.
I have said it before that IMHO the powerful "gift" i received from NA was learning that I
absolutely had the freedom the "God of MY understanding" Allowing bible passages to be read
is an implied endorsement of the bible and it's message. Our traditions are absolutely clear
that this is a violation, and a serious one. It can drive non bible people out of the fellowship when
they desperately need to hear the na message. It violates our primary purpose
"To carry the message to the addict who still suffers" (tradition 5)
It is certainly ok for members of the home group to gently let people know that it is not appropriate
to be referencing the bible or any religeous texts at an NA meeting.
It could be done after a meeting, but if someone is going on and on about it, then the chairperson
or any home group member should interrupt and briefly explain why it is a violation of the traditions,
personnaly I would then follow up with the person after the meeting to make sure they understand it is not
personal but essential to the health of the fellowship that the traditions be adhered to.
"These traditions are not negotiable".......

Hi Mary..........................thanks for sharing.
But please allow me to remind you that you've not been in that meeting for a long time, as you say so yourself.
So,  are your sources of information reliable ?

We have had major controversies in our area regarding woman's meetings. Dominant women controlling things, holding of a womens convention without ASC support, and opposition from women not wanting to isolate caused a lot of disunity in our area.  I, however, favoured female independance and thought I was of the right conviction that it brought out the best in them. But strange things came to pass:  as i attended more workshops on Traditions and "womens-rights" in NA, and heard or read more shares,  there was this shocking realization that a women only meeting is controversial from the very start. The following para spells it out.

"Who is an addict" clearly states that "anyone may join us, regardless........" and an NA group that admits only women contravenes this policy.  No pat answers to that. Tradition 5 clearly defines the groups purpose. If there was no other meetings that day and a suffering male addict needed a meeting, would women keep him out ?  If a meeting kept out addicts that still suffer because of gender, then the Tradition is broken, no matter how powerful the justification. Needless to say, this caused a lot of dis-unity in my area here. Gone were the days when I could innocently hug a female addict or chat with her in the coffee shop. And many other males too felt that the atmosphere had been vitiated. Why should a majority of us have to suffer for the misdeeds of a few ?

I for one felt a barrier between me and my recovering sisters !

But having said that, there was acknowledgement of a vacuum. Women needed a safe heaven to recover in. Women addicts did not want to tolerate predatory males, 13th steppers etc. They also needed privacy on issues like gender, sexuality and identification. Meetings for women evolved so they will have equeal chances in recovery. Ground reality forced women to go solo and the "special interest" clause as stated in the GTLS nailed it. 

Women-only meetings are a worldwide pnenomena now, and in that is fullfillment of our Fellowship's primary purpose.

Now back to your womens group; my understanding based on a detached viewpoint is that members that quote religious text perhaps do it as a matter of course in honestly sharing what works for them in recovery. If it is reasoned that they will drive away non-bible people, then by the same token if they are strictured or not allowed to share, they will be driven away too. Both sides have rights, and indeed, responsibilities.

Your group conscience meeting can be a ladder to Greater Spirituality.
wow......i can pre-feel the buzz in that meeting...all the best to you and your group.

And though the debate may rage on and acrimony and tension rule the floor, hope Higher Power Steps-In.

Let the Spirit of the Traditions influence your decisions.

.....may Loving God prevail.

 

-- Edited by Raman on Tuesday 26th of February 2013 03:26:10 AM

-- Edited by Raman on Tuesday 26th of February 2013 03:29:48 AM

Raman brings up a good point.
But let's remember that there are "men only" groups as well.
There are a couple of gender specific meetings in my area.
Each of them adds the caveat "no addict turned away" to their group conscience.
So even though the groups are 'womens' or 'mens' they each uphold the tradition.
I don't know that a man has ever attended the womens meeting and vice versa.
We are fortunate in our area that there are several meetings on any given day,
so not addict has to feel that he can't get recovery due to gender issues.
I believe it is important to have gender specific meetings.
The predators and 13th steppers are a reality in our fellowship, so women need a safe haven.
As for men...the chairman of the men's group when first announcing it to the area said
it's a meeting where you won't meet your next ex-wife".....LOL

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses.  All the points made were excellent!  Hopefully, the women will be able to keep their meetings (while I don't attend them, they are important to so many others)  Love to all of you and thanks again!