Sunday September 25 2016 I began a nine-part series entitled “12 Steps to Freedom” – a personal and I hope spirited reflection on the 12 Steps compiled by Bill Wilson (co-founder of AA).

Class #1 is an introduction to the subject touching on some historical and general context.

As it happened the day before the class, a local Methodist wrote a relevant article in the local Newport Daily News – click the link below.
Clergy-Corner – The Reverend Jaegil Lee

Before the class I made some preliminary remarks about authority, primal truth and the genesis of the writing of the 12 Steps and the Big Book “Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Authority – this series is very much a personal and probably scattered review of this fabulous system of growth and integration.
Primal Truth – I believe there are primal truths such as the access to salvation, health and integration; that these primal truths are established deep in historical and psychic history (maybe even pre-history) and find expression in different but similar ways. I believe the 12 Steps are an expression of such primal truth.
Genesis of composition – note some of the stages by which Bill Wilson came to write… 1. Problem 2. Rescue 3. Reflection in writing 4. Community review and adapt the original writing 5. Bill W’s writings receive an ‘imprimatur’ from AA and may not be altered without permission 6. A story section is added to ‘enflesh’ the concepts and the theories. Now… see any parallel with another very special book?

click for Class #1 Notes
Class #1