Statement of Shared Principles

We celebrate the distinctives of each of the ministries of the IACTSM. Each of our ministries has a unique history and makes a unique contribution. We see this as a strength, not as a problem to be solved. We share, however, certain common convictions and this statment is intended to briefly explain those shared convictions.

1. The ministries of the IACTSM are based on the biblical wisdom found in the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

We thank God for AA and for other Twelve Step fellowships. Many of us first found sobriety in the rooms of AA and are grateful to God for the strength, support and encouragement we continue to receive there. We encourage people who participate in our ministries to continue to participate in AA, NA or other Twelve Step programs appropriate to their situation.

2. We believe that the things people "do" when they "do" the Twelve Steps are biblical, spiritual disciplines that would be helpful to any Christian.

The Twelve Steps are not the Twelve Ideas. Or the Twelve Theological Convictions. They are a set of suggested behaviors. They are things to do. What do people "do" when they "do" the Twelve Steps? Here are a few examples: self examination, confession, making amends, prayer, and meditation. These are not some strange 'new age' path to enlightenment. These are spiritual disciplines with very deep roots in the Christian community. Even the most casual examination of the history of A.A. will show that it was in the Christian community that the founders of A.A. learned the importance of these spiritual disciplines.

3. We believe that the Twelve Steps are not a magical cure for alcoholism or for anything else.

As it says in the Big Book of A.A.: "We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." (Big Book, chapter 6) Humility about what the Twelve Steps make possible is a good policy. As we sometimes say: "AA won't solve all my problems but it can help keep me sober to work on them."

4. We believe that the Twelve Steps of AA are not everything-you-need-to-know-about God.

The Twelve Steps are a kind of spiritual kindergarten. Think of it as Introduction to Spirituality 101. It is the introductory course (with laboratory required!). Other courses will be necessary for Christian maturity. People who are not addicts may even be able to start with the more advanced courses. It is, however, our shared conviction that addicts need the introductory course. Here is where we learn the basics (e.g. There is a God and it is not me). When explaining why a more traditional Christian discipleship program (the Oxford Groups) were not well-suited for alcoholics, Bill W., one of the co-founders of AA, said of alcoholics that they "need to be fed with teaspoons rather than by buckets." (AA Comes of Age, p 75) We share this conviction. The Twelve Steps provide a structured process in which to learn the most basic of spiritual truths. It takes some of us a long time to take in the basics. Will there be more to learn later? Of course.

5. We believe that the Higher Power who makes recovery possible is the God of the Bible.

When we are active in our addictions, we are our own God. Whether we are aware of it or not, we have chosen ourselves to be our "Higher Power." The first baby-step in early recovery involves learning that we have made a very poor choice. Recovery begins when we recognize that we are not a suitable candidate for "Higher Power" and we agree to let somebody or something other than ourselves be God. Recognizing that there is a God and that it is not me is a huge step. It is the beginning of a long process of developing a relationship with God. In the process of recovery we learn more and more about God. The ministries of the IACTSM believe that the Creator of the Universe honors and rejoices in the simple faith of a hopeless addict who comes to believe that a power exists which is greater than their own and which is capable of restoring them to sanity. From this humble beginning we have, over a period of time, come to believe that the God of the Bible, who is revealed most clearly in Jesus, is the real power behind all recovery and is, therefore, the only fully appropriate choice for Higher Power.

6. We believe that the Christian community has a lot to learn from the Twelve Step tradition.

The acceptance, honesty, safety and mutual support found in most Twelve Step meetings often comes as a shock to Christians when they first attend. They wonder why it feels safe to talk about what is real on Thursday nights in the recovery group but it does not feel safe to talk about what is real on Sunday mornings. Why, they wonder, does it feel like you have to already be a good Christian before you feel comfortable at church? We think this is a good question. People in the Twelve Step community have a lot they can learn from the church. But the church also has a lot it could learn from the Twelve Step community if it had the spiritual humility to pay attention. We believe it is God's intention for Christian fellowships to be safe places to be people-in-process. It is our collective prayer that the Christian community will learn something from A.A. and other Twelve Step fellowships about how to be a safe, supportive fellowship that welcomes people who are struggling with the most difficult of life's problems.