Today Patsy, whose writing and opinion I respect very much, advised someone like this - “So, I would suggest attending a different AA group, and look around, ask...who has been through the 12 Steps of AA herself, has a sponsor of her own, has an AA home group that she belongs too, is reaching out to newcomers AND is Smiling “ Very good advise, and recently another lady I respect, Paige, also advised someone to choose a sponsor who has a sponsor, and I have seen this advise by others as well.
Now I am not anti sponsor, and very often on here advise newcomers, that although I didn't have a sponsor, (there are a couple of other members here who didn't either), that a good sponsor would make the journey through the steps easier. I do speak out when new members report what are obviously 'bad' sponsors, the thread that Patsy made her recommendation in for example.
So this sort of advise, which I have also heard in live meetings, can result in those who choose not to have a sponsor, although years sober and recovered, to never have the opportunity to sponsor someone themselves.
I have looked to see where this is an AA recommendation, and can't find it, if someone can I would be happy to read it. What I have found is in the AA pamphlet on sponsorship, under “How should a sponsor be chosen,” they say things like - “Stick with the winners... a member who seems to be using the A.A. program successfully in everyday life...should seem to be enjoying sobriety.” All good commonsense stuff.
In 1944, the well known AA stalwart Clarence S, printed a sponsorship pamphlet, it contains this advise - “Additional information for sponsoring a new man can be obtained from the experience of older men in the work.” Again, very good commonsense advise, if you are not sure on a particular matter ask others.
I turned away from the church of my youth, as did many in AA I know. And one of the major reasons, was that it wanted to guarantee the survival of it's ideals, by insisting that whoever you marry your kids must be of this church. Now to guarantee the survival of their ideals, are we going to have AA members suggesting we can't sponsor, the basic right of all, and often the means of guaranteeing sobriety. It not only sounds unfair, but off putting to a certain type of independent thinking newcomer, who is pretty well being told you will have a sponsor for the rest of your life, if you disagree, we will suggest to newcomers, that they don't ask you to do the most rewarding and important function the program offers.
Sorry if my post looks a little like a rant, I just don't think Bill and Bob and the others like Clarence, had anything like this in mind, and I find it upsetting.