Nate Larkin, David Hampton
Episode 114 - Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? with Stephen Haynes
Episode 114 - Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? with Stephen Haynes
Episode 114 - Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? with Stephen Haynes
Tuesday 11th January 2022
Stephen Haynes explores how AA principles can enrich church life and the challenges of merging recovery with faith communities.
70 minutes
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Get the buttons here!Stephen Haynes on Why Church Should Embrace AA Principles
I think the only way for this to work in churches is to have people be in recovery at the highest levels, either a minister of recovery or head minister, or at least have people who are willing to submit themselves to the discipline of recovery in a learning posture, so that they don't end up churchifying it.
Imagine a church service that feels as supportive and honest as an AA meeting. In this episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, hosts Nate Larkin and David Hampton chat with Stephen Haynes, a Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Liberal Arts in Prison Program at Rhodes College. Haynes dives into the unique ways recovery can enrich faith communities and the hurdles that come with it.
He believes that for recovery to truly thrive within churches, those in recovery must hold significant roles or adopt a learning posture about recovery's disciplines. Haynes shares his personal journey, including his experiences leading a men's group at his church. He highlights the stark differences between a typical step meeting and his church gatherings, where there's often an instinct to fix problems rather than simply listen and support.
This episode sheds light on the diverse recovery experiences within faith settings and stresses the importance of normalizing these journeys. The conversation also touches on how the pandemic has shifted people's relationships with their faith communities and how recovery can offer a transformative path for many. If you're curious about how recovery principles can integrate into church life, this episode is packed with valuable insights and real-life examples.