After attending our first few OA meetings, we soon became aware of the Twelve Steps and the OA Tools of Recovery as foundational for working our recovery program. However, as we “trudge the Road of Happy Destiny” many of us find unexpected doorways to recovery…
The Group Conscience
In my five years in Overeaters Anonymous, one of the “unexpected doorways” to recovery and maintaining abstinence has been through participating in the group conscience for the OA meetings I attend.
As defined by OA (and further explained in the OA Guidelines for A group conscience, a group conscience is a meeting to “determine how best to conduct meetings, spend funds, organize special events and deal with issues that affect the group or OA as a whole. These meetings to discuss the business of the group allow members to work together to consider and agree on how best to proceed in the interests of OA as a whole.” Many groups hold a regular monthly group conscience. Some groups, instead, call a group conscience when an issue or group interest has been identified.
I was at a Tuesday newcomer’s group meeting soon after my very first OA meeting when I heard the announcement for group conscience. The meeting Chair said, “A group conscience will be held right after this meeting and will last no more than 20 minutes.” Well, that in itself peaked my curiosity! I had been involved in non-profit strategic planning and consulting for the majority of my career — and didn’t think I had EVER seen ANY meeting last only 20 minutes!
The surprises that night were many and have continued to unfold throughout my participation in group consciences.
As one who grew up in a very authoritarian household, I was surprised at seeing the OA “horizontal fellowship” in action at group consciences. All voices and opinions are welcomed and heard. This was certainly something new! Even throughout my business career, I (and my colleagues) had solely relied on the hierarchy of the organizational chart for all decision-making.
Yet, here was a group making meaningful decisions and including everyone in the process. Time and again in a group conscience, I have been in the presence of dissenting opinions being respectfully shared and received. It has also happened that a topic has been carried over to the next group conscience so that all viewpoints can be considered. Once the discussion has concluded, a decision is made by consensus.
I remember one group conscience in particular when I shared a viewpoint and then found that I was alone in that opinion. After the discussion, the vote was taken and the consensus was for — well, let’s just say “not my opinion.” But here was the surprise for me: I was completely content with the decision! I was happy just to have shared my viewpoint. And, perhaps most importantly, the fears I had that others might judge me or exclude me from the group were, of course, unfounded.
Through the “unexpected doorway” provided by OA group consciences, some very old “it’s best to conform — or else, be ready to feel the shame” messages have been able to see the light of day and fall away. The group conscience has been one of many ways within OA that I have had a direct experience of a new way of living.
Denise G.
