to enable groups in WSO's meeting list to reach out to
atheists, agnostics, and polytheists.
Over the years, secular Al-Anon meetings have been started and failed because people could not find them by looking at published meeting lists. Let's suggest a remedy for this and bring it before the conference of delegate that sets policy for Al-Anon's service committees.
What we need to accomplish this:
· A proposal
· Arguments for it, and evidence of the need
· Delegates willing to present the arguments
· Anything else? Please send comments to AppealConference@gmail.com
This page can serve as a repository for these resources.
You can help:
· If you would like to write a proposal or arguments, we can collect them on this web page.
· If you are a delegate or are willing to seek out sypathetic delegates, you can send them to this page to supply them with thought-provoking material.
· If you are willing to write a testimonial stating your need and what secular meetings have done for you, we can collect those here.
· Add yourself to the mailing list: AppealConference@gmail.com
No one knows how long it will take, so let's get started!
Support for non-believers could take the form of allowing words like "secular" in the meeting names listed by WSO. See the discussion here.
It could take the form of a special interest designation much like "adult children," or LGBT.
Other ideas? AppealConference@gmail.com
Read formal proposals here.
The WSO contradicts itself by claiming that there is no religion in Al-Anon meetings but suggesting a format with monotheistic prayer.
When explaining why a meeting called "Al-Anon Without Religion" would not get into their meeting list, World Services says, "Using a name of this nature implies there are meetings for Al-Anon with religion when in fact, that is not the case." But they post a suggested meeting format that uses the word "God" five times. (https://www.alanon.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Suggested-Meeting-Format-for-Zoom-Meetings-1.pdf) "God" is a religious term, used by some but not all religions. It flags Al-Anon as a fellowship of monothesists--Jews, Moslems and Christians, and not a fellowship of polytheists, athesists or undeclareds--Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, indigenous people practicing shamanistic religions, and many others too numerous to list. If there are Al-Anon meetings with God, there need to be some without God, as well.
The groups are represented the GSRs at local decision-making gatherings. Each group can have a GSR, and this is your first point of contact with decision making for Al-Anon as a whole. You can talk to these people, explain the need, ask for their assistance, and support any efforts they make in the right direction.
Read testimonials from agnostic and atheist Al-Anon members here.
To add your testimonial, send it to AppealConference@gmail.com. Please avoid offensive language.
The Wednesday night secular Al-Anon meeting gets about 10 new inquiries every month--far more than traditional meetings get.
Here are one member's comments on WSO's naming philosophy, not tied to a proposal.