The Fifth Step

Seeing A Clergy Member

In its discussion of the Fifth Step, the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book presents a blunt and forceful analysis of the typical alcoholic's tendency to "present a stage character" to his fellows (pg. 73). This tendency is often accompanied by a reluctance to tell "someone else all their life story"- that is, a reluctance to admit to "another human being the exact nature of our wrongs" and a tendency to postpone getting on with the Fifth Step immediately after completion of our Fourth Step: moral inventory.

The Big Book suggests that "we think well before we choose the person or persons with whom to take this intimate and confidential step" (pg. 74). The suggestion is made to search "for a close-mouthed, understanding friend...It is important that he be able to keep a confidence: that he fully understand and approve what we are driving at: that he will not try to change our plan." But we are admonished not to use this difficulty of finding the right person " ... as a mere excuse to postpone. When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time" (pg. 75).

Some AA groups suggest individuals conduct their Fifth Step with a "sponsor" or some other member of AA. The members of the How It Works Group, however, have had many negative experiences with that approach. Consequently, the group suggests newcomers complete the Fifth Step with an ordained priest, minister, or rabbi. The group found this to be the most effective way to (1) encourage the individual to be completely honest, (2) waste no timeafter the completion of the Fourth Step inventory, (3) ensure confidentiality of the process, and (4) keep the individual and the group safe during this crucial and vital step. The clergy member is morally and, in most cases, legally bound to treat any information or "confessions" as private and privileged. Further, and as a practical matter, there is no fee or charge for the use of a priest, minister or rabbi. It is up to the individual group to locate clergy members to receive the Fifth Step.

The collective experience of the group teaches us that using a responsible person outside the group to "receive" newcomers' Fifth Step admissions about the exact nature of their wrongs, frees all members in the group. No member can hold personal information over another, no one needs to be uncomfortable knowing a fellow member knows information about them, and no member is incapacitated by information shared in confidence by another.