Spotlight On Sobriety 09/21/2025
- Steve N.
- Sep 15, 2025
- 6 min read
In this week's publication:
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Spotlight On Sobriety 09/21/2025
Being a Self-Sustaining AA Group: A Balance of Money and Mission
In Alcoholics Anonymous, self-sufficiency is more than financial—it’s spiritual. Guided by the Seventh Tradition, AA groups commit to being “fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” This principle ensures that no external influence can compromise the group’s autonomy or mission.
Why it matters:
Self-sustaining groups are resilient. They pay their own rent, provide literature, support local service structures, and even fund celebratory touches like birthday cakes—all from voluntary member contributions. This independence protects AA from outside control and keeps the focus on sobriety and service.
Challenges arise, of course. Some groups debate how to spend limited funds—should they prioritize literature or coffee? Is a birthday cake a luxury or a lifeline? These decisions are made through group conscience, where members weigh spiritual values against practical needs.
The AA pamphlet Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix offers a deeper dive into this balance. It reminds us that while AA is a spiritual fellowship, it still has real-world expenses—from meeting spaces to hotline services—and these are only possible when members contribute what they can.
The takeaway:
Being self-sustaining isn’t just about paying bills. It’s about ownership, unity, and the shared responsibility of keeping the hand of AA always there for the next person who reaches out.
Jim D.
Atlanta GA
A Conversation with Our Readers
At GaL-AA, we love hearing from our readers. Your feedback, reflections, and insights help us grow together as a fellowship. Following our recent newsletter article on The History of the Serenity Prayer (read it here), Roger R., reached out with thoughtful reflections on the origins of the prayer and the role of Teresa of Ávila.
With Roger’s kind permission, we are sharing both the letter and our reply below. We hope you will find this exchange as meaningful as we did.
The Serenity Prayer has long been a touchstone in recovery, and its history sparks deep interest and occasional debate. We’d love to hear your thoughts too — do you have insights, perspectives, or resources on the prayer’s origins and meaning? Please share them with us at SpotlightOnSobriety@gal-aa.org
Together, we can keep this conversation alive as part of our ongoing work at GaL-AA ensuring that all voices in our fellowship are valued and heard.
Email From Roger R. Author/Spiritual Counselor
While your article Re: Serenity Prayer was thoughtful, perhaps a deeper journey into history would have shown you the first writing of same was, Teresa of Avila, a woman, nun, mystic, writer and church reformer (who often got in trouble with the church for emphasizing poverty, simplicity and contemplative prayer) as a focus over power, property and prestige). She lived 1515 - 1582 and was canonized (declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970—one of the first two women). In her version, it was a prayer of desperation and yet, hope and began not with the word “God” rather with the phrase “Grant me…”. Perhaps betraying her trust even in toughest circumstances.
It seems all so misogynistic that “the man” gets the credit and yet consistent with AA’s beginnings (less so today, in my experience).
Please respond.
Roger R., Author/Spiritual Counselor
Response From GaL-AA:
Dear Roger R.,
Thank you for taking the time to write in response to our article on the Serenity Prayer. We appreciate your passion for the history of prayer and your dedication to highlighting the voices of women like Teresa of Ávila, whose contributions to spirituality remain profound and enduring.
You raise an important concern about attribution. Our initial research showed, and further review has confirmed, that the version of the Serenity Prayer most widely known today (“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…”) is attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian, who first used it in the 1930s and 1940s. Its popularity grew after it appeared in print in 1943 and when it was adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in the early 1940s. This is the form most often quoted in AA and recovery communities today.
That said, you are absolutely right that prayers and meditations echoing similar themes existed long before Niebuhr. Christian mystics such as Teresa of Ávila, along with many other thinkers, wrote prayers expressing surrender, courage, and trust in God in ways that certainly anticipate the sentiments of the Serenity Prayer. While there is no evidence Teresa of Ávila authored the specific text known as the “Serenity Prayer,” it is clear her spiritual writings reflect a spirit of simplicity, humility, and perseverance that resonates deeply with the message of serenity and acceptance.
Your concern about women’s contributions being overlooked is also well taken. The spiritual legacy of Teresa and other women mystics deserves ongoing recognition, and we are grateful you reminded us of this perspective.
With your permission, we would like to publish both your letter and our reply in an upcoming newsletter to invite further discussion from the fellowship. We believe this type of dialogue is exactly what enriches our community and supports the broader conversations we are having as part of GaL-AA’s Strategic Priorities.
In short, while the modern Serenity Prayer in its familiar wording is most directly linked to Niebuhr, we acknowledge that its spirit draws from a much older well of Christian (and even pre-Christian) wisdom. We’ll keep your insights in mind for future writings, as they add important depth to the story.
With gratitude,
Steve N.
Las Vegas, NV
GaL-AA - Newsletter Committee Chair
Last Call for Candidates & Notice of Annual Meeting
📌 Candidate submissions close on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET.
As part of our commitment to transparency, leadership renewal, and member engagement, the Executive Committee of GaL-AA reminds you that the deadline for candidates to submit resumes is fast approaching. Elections will be held for Deputy Chair, Secretary, and Advisor II at our Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM (ET) on Zoom. Full Annual Meeting details are available on our Annual Meeting page.
This is your opportunity to step forward and make a meaningful contribution to the Alcoholics Anonymous LGBTQ+ community. Information about the election process, open positions, and requirements can be found on our Election Page.
To apply, please submit:
A brief service resume
A short statement of interest or qualifications
A record of your service in Alcoholics Anonymous
Submissions should be made using the “Candidate Submittal” button on the Election Page.
Why participate? Elections are a vital part of our democratic process. Whether you are running for office or casting your vote, your voice matters. Together, we shape the future of GaL-AA.
If you have questions or need more information, please reach out at elections@gal-aa.org.
GaL-AA Elections Committee
Carolambda Roundup, Aiken, SC
Carolambda Recovery Weekend returns October 10–12, 2025, offering a powerful blend of fellowship, fun, and recovery in the beautiful setting of rural Aiken, South Carolina. Hosted at Camp Gravatt, the weekend brings together LGBTQ+ members of the recovery community from across the region for three days of connection, laughter, and spiritual renewal.
This year, we are honored to welcome Francis M. and Phill B., both from Charleston, as our featured speakers. Longtime attendees of Carolambda, Francis and Phill bring incredible experience, strength, and hope—and we can’t wait for them to share their stories with us.
Alongside speaker meetings, attendees can look forward to a full day of workshops (schedule to be announced), opportunities for self-discovery, and plenty of time for fellowship. The retreat center also offers abundant recreation options, including hiking, lake swimming, kayaking, and peaceful spaces for reflection and connection.
Whether this is your first Carolambda or your tenth, you’ll find a welcoming community and a chance to recharge your recovery in the company of friends old and new.
For details and registration, visit www.carolambda.com.
GaL-AA's Spotlight On Sobriety 09/21/2025
The Spotlight On Sobriety features personal stories, articles and reflections submitted by members and friends of the fellowship. The views expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of Alcoholics Anonymous or GaL-AA.
Your GaL-AA Newsletter Team
