Big Book Step Study (BBSS)

1. Meeting opening by the chairperson
2. 12 Step reading from the Big Book
3. A guest speaker sharing on the step(s)
4. Sharing by qualified attendees
5. Meeting closing by the chairperson

BBSS Meeting Format & Sequence

A BBSS meeting has a chaiperson, typically a member of the BBSS group, who conducts the meeting per group conscience. The format and sequence is described below.

• BBSS Chairperson — Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Attitudes
  
  
  • Is sober a year or more, has done the steps per the book Alcoholics Anonymous, is practicing steps 10, 11 & 12 daily, and shows that by their words and actions.
    
    
  • Is willing to conduct the meeting per the prescribed format; is the "point person" to uphold group conscience; is willing to explain BBSS or their group to newcomers. Is willing to intercede to remind people of the meeting’s purpose and its sharing time limit. The chair usually serves for a month and finds the guest speakers.
    
    
  • Believes that "God’s will" is for alcoholics to recover through the 12 steps. Has a greater desire to be truthful than to be popular. Aspires to be a servant of God and of those around them.
  
  
• Meeting Opening
  
  A BBSS meeting is opened by the chairperson who makes introductory remarks and reads the group conscience statement.
  
  
  1. Chairperson's Introduction
     The chairperson typically opens the meeting with the AA preamble, AA announcements, and welcomes visitors or those new to the meeting.
     
     
  2. Group Conscience Statement
     This is what makes a BBSS meeting what it is. It defines the group’s conscience, its mission, and how it carries AA's message to the alcoholic who still suffers. It lays out ground rules for the meeting, mainly that sharing at the meeting requires exerience with the 12 steps as they are laid out in the Big Book.
     
     
  A period of meditation (1+ minutes) is often observed after the chairperson’s introduction.
  
  
• Big Book Reading (shown here)
  
  Also known as the cycle or step rotation, this is a 15-week reading sequence of the 12 steps from our textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous. The chairperson announces the step(s) and corresponding Big Book pages. The chairperson asks someone to start and the reading proceeds around the table or room until completed. (Typically, readers do not identify themselves at this point in the meeting.)


• The Guest Speaker
  
  A BBSS guest speaker is an alcoholic who is working AA's 12 Steps. Specifically, the guest speaker:
  
  
  1. Has taken a 3rd step with their BBSS sponsor or another person
  2. Has completed a 4th step as laid out in the Big Book, and is willing to read examples from their inventory.
  3. Has done steps 6 and 7 approximately an hour after the 5th step.
  4. Has done a few or all 9th step amends
  5. Is practicing steps 10, 11, and 12 on a daily basis.
  
  In general, a guest speaker has chaired BBSS meetings and is willing to sponsor others. Guest speakers often share briefly on their drinking history and how they got sober, and then focus on the step(s) just read. Guest speakers typically share 15 to 20 minutes, or as per group conscience.


• Sharing on the Step
  
  Following the guest speaker, attendees may share their experience with the step(s). The sharing typically starts where the reading ended. Sharing proceeds around the room or table (or Zoom). Those "not qualified" to share usually introduce themselves and pass to the next person.
  
  
  • Who is Qualified to Share
    Alcoholics who have completed their 4th Step writing, have read their 5th Step, have completed at least some 9th step amends, and who are practicing Steps 10, 11 and 12 on a daily basis may share. Often, people who have been through the BBSS process will state they have done the steps as laid out in the Big Book with a sponsor who has done the same, or something to that effect, to show familiarity with the BBSS process. Each person's sharing is brief (3-5 minutes) and the chairperson keeps track of the time.
    
  
  
  • What to Do When Unqualified People Try to Share
    It is the chairperson’s responsibility to judge if someone is qualified to share. The chairperson must listen to each person's share and assess whether it comports with group conscience. The chairperson may interject or interrupt if, in their judgment, someone is not qualified to share, per group conscience.
    
    If necessary, after the meeting the chairperson or other members may seek someone out to clarify the BBSS format and group conscience, with genuine concern, love, and tolerance.
  
  
  • What if a person becomes angry or insists on sharing?
    It is wise to let such people have their say, but at a later time be asked about compliance with group conscience. Our inventories have revealed outbursts of anger are often self-seeking and fear-based defenses to shield our security, self esteem, personal relations, ambition, and pride. The expression "an empty barrel makes the most noise" best describes this sort of situation.


• Meeting Closing
  
  When only a few minutes remain, the chairperson asks anyone who has not yet shared to introduce themself and asks those willing to be a BBSS sponsor to identify themselves. Many BBSS meetings close with a reading of A Vision For You and the Lord’s Prayer.

• Our group uses a modified version of the Hyannis Men's Big Book Step Study Group preamble. Other groups may use this or their own variation.


• Our group uses the earliest version of the step rotation. Other groups have added, omitted, or combined readings, or changed the order of readings.