LORD'S PRAYER AND
A.A. MEETINGS
I asked GSO on 7/1/95 why and how the custom of the Lord's Prayer came to be. Here is the response exactly as I received it from Joanie Moncrief of the General Service Staff:
(There is not a wealth of background on the use of the "Lord's Prayer" to conclude A.A. meetings. The early days of A.A. are documented in Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, and reveal that Bill W. and Doctor Bob had roots in the Oxford Groups, which was based on theological principles. The same textbook pays tribute to our non-alcoholic friends, some of whom were involved in religious work. Nevertheless, our Traditions suggest that we are not affiliated with any outside entity, including religion. That is the reason that the use of any prayer in entirely up to the conscience of each A.A. group. Speaking personally, each time I hear concerns expressed about "The Lord's Prayer," I wonder why that prayer is singled out: What about the Third Step and Seventh Step prayers in our Big Book? Also, the Eleventh Step prayer in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (page 99) is attributed to a man who is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church. Should this prayer be used for the principles of love, service and forgiveness that it demonstrates, or be laid aside because of its origin? "The A.A. Group" pamphlet enclosed was entirely rewritten by the 1991 General Service Conference. The section on "Suggested meeting procedures" (page 19) closes with the statement that "Many meetings close with members reciting the Lord's Prayer or the Serenity Prayer." "Members of the Clergy Ask about Alcoholics Anonymous" is also enclosed because I thought you would be interested in the portion on "Is Prayer Observed in the A.A. program?" on pages 13 and 14. Finally, let me repeat that the use of any prayer by an A.A. group is up to the conscience of that group, provided that such does not affect other groups or A.A. as a whole. A.A. unity is our First Tradition and takes precedent over any member's personal opinion.) This is the end of Joanie's writings.
From the book Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of age, page 196, paragraph 2, lines 7-9: (...the Serenity Prayer came into general use and took it's place alongside our two other favorites. The Lord's Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis,) and page 258, paragraph 3, line 1: (The fifth step, His teaching, His example, our Lord's Prayer.)
From Box 4-5-9, volume 3841, date unknown. (During its fledgling years, AA Archivist, Frank M., notes, the Fellowship was more religiously oriented than it would be later. The main emphasis was not on one's drinking history, but on surrender, acknowledging one's character defects, and learning through the shared experience to live better lives socially, ethically and religiously. Frank says, "Old-timers' memories differ as to exactly when the Lord's Prayer was first used in AA. According to members who came to the Fellowship in 1938 and 1939, it was said at meetings then. Co-founder Bill W. thought it might have been a carry over from the custom of our forerunner, the Oxford Group, but he was never really sure." In those days there was no AA literature. In fact, AA didn't even have a name. And so the early groups leaned on Bible readings for inspiration and guidance. Meetings probably closed with the Lord's Prayer because, as Bill explained, "It did not put speakers to the tasks, embarrassing to many, of composing prayers of their own." The religious slant changed as it became evident that AA's program of recovery could cross barriers of creed, race and religion; and as the Fellowship developed Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and other literature of its own. Yet use of the Lord's Prayer persisted in AA as it has everywhere else. Frank points to a letter on the subject written by Bill in 1959. Responding to an AA member who had questioned the practice of closing meetings with the Lord's Prayer. Bill said, "This prayer is of such wide spread use and recognition that the argument of its Christian origin seems to be a little far fetched." Stressing that the leader of the meeting usually asks attendees to join him in the Lord's Prayer, ONLY IF THEY WISH TO, Bill observed, "the worst that happens to the objectors is that they have to listen to it...doubtless a salutary exercise in tolerance at this state of their progress." He further added that, "most AA's believe God as we understand Him, and have faith that communication and strength are obtainable through His grace. Since this is the general consensus, it seems only right that the Serenity Prayer and the Lord's Prayer be used in connection with our meetings." Of course, Frank is quick to note, "The final decision about saying the Lord's Prayer or about any other activity rests with the majority, or group conscience." As Bill said time and time again, "Group conscience in the long run will be wiser than the opinion of any single leader."
In the Fellowship's early days, there was no A.A. literature, and the young groups leaned heavily on Bible reading for inspiration and guidance. Meetings usually closed with the Lord's Prayer because, as A.A. co-founder Bill W. later explained, "it did not put speakers to the task, embarrassing to many, of composing prayers of their own."
AA pamphlet: Members of the Clergy ask about Alcoholics Anonymous, page 14, paragraph 4
A.A. AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
The unity of A.A. is well expressed where we all acknowledge a common Father. The concept of His power is indicated is indicated when we place Him in heaven, well above our mortal effort. Our goal of being restored to sanity is in the words "Thy kingdom come" because the mess we once made of our lives was surely not to His liking.
We express the Third Step in almost the same words when we say "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." And asking for our daily bread--not food for a whole lifetime, not for the next year nor next month, but for our daily bread--couldn't be closer to the 24 hour program. Then we can hardly ask
forgiveness for trespasses we don't acknowledge as wrongs, so the moral inventory is implied there.
Finally, the Eleventh Step is certainly close to our petition that we not be led into temptation but delivered from evil, because we know His will for us could not be that of continued wrongdoing.
In one way or another, a tremendous part of our program in contained in the Lord's Prayer.