The Rev. Susie Phoenix

Al-Anon is a 12-Step program for people who have family members and/or friends who struggle or have struggled with alcoholism and/or addiction. I will focus on Step 2: “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” What could that possibly mean in a culture that prizes self-reliance and individualism? What could that possibly mean from a fuzzily spiritual, agnostic, or a-theistic point of view? Does it imply that I’m insane? Let’s dig in and find out!

Susie Phoenix has been a member of FPC since 1991, and associate member in more recent years. She received her Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in 2002, and was ordained at this church in 2004. She received accreditation to practice ministry in The United Church of Christ in 2010. She has served 5 churches of varying denominations and blends and has worked in hospice, prison, and nature ministries. More recently she has been working with special needs children as she drives them to and from their programs. She also tends gardens for 7 months a year.  For the past 18 months she has been engaged in Buddhist practice and study and has attended many retreats.  She is in the process of formulating her own unique, emerging community ministry.