Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings in Tennessee, Shelby, Memphis, USA

What is AA?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global fellowship designed for individuals seeking support and recovery from alcohol addiction. In Memphis, Tennessee, just like in cities across the United States, AA offers a free, peer-led program with regular group meetings that foster mutual support, shared experiences, and ongoing commitment to sobriety, which can be explored in more detail at https://www.wfmh.org/aa/tennessee/shelby/memphis. The program is accessible to anyone with a desire to stop drinking, and all meetings are confidential, inclusive, and based on the principle of one alcoholic helping another.

AA Meeting Locations in Memphis

Memphis hosts a variety of AA meetings at churches, community centers, and dedicated recovery clubs. Below are three prominent venues, each offering different meeting formats tailored to the diverse needs of the Memphis recovery community.

Christ United Methodist Church

Address: 4488 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38117

Meetings: Meetings at Christ United Methodist Church are held in the library and include open discussions on Mondays at 12 pm, closed discussions for alcoholics only on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, open speaker meetings on Thursdays at 7 pm, and open discussions on Saturdays at 10 am. Each session typically lasts 60–90 minutes and provides a welcoming environment for newcomers as well as long-term members. The open discussion format encourages all attendees to share their experiences, while the closed discussion on Tuesdays is reserved for those who identify as alcoholics, ensuring a safe space for personal sharing.

Shady Grove Presbyterian Church

Address: 5530 Shady Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38120

Meetings: Shady Grove Presbyterian Church offers a young people’s closed meeting on Sundays at 7 pm, an open discussion on Wednesdays at noon, and an open speaker meeting on Fridays at 8 pm. These meetings are open to anyone seeking sobriety, with the Sunday session specifically designed to support younger members in recovery. Each meeting typically lasts 60–90 minutes and includes both general discussion formats and speaker meetings, where individuals share their personal stories of recovery.

Unity of Memphis Spiritual Center

Address: 2442 Virginia Ave, Memphis, TN 38112

Meetings: Unity of Memphis Spiritual Center hosts a variety of AA formats: open literature discussion on Mondays at noon, closed step study on Tuesdays at 6 pm, open discussion on Thursdays at 6 pm, and a closed men’s group meeting on Saturdays at 7:30 am. Each meeting is approximately 60 minutes long and includes focused study of AA literature, discussion of the 12 steps, and gender-specific support groups for men. The diversity of meeting types here allows members to find the support that best fits their recovery journey.

The 12 Steps of AA

The 12 Steps form the foundation of AA’s approach to recovery. Each step is designed to encourage personal growth, accountability, and a spiritual connection, as interpreted individually by each member.

Admitted we were powerless over alcohol: This step is about recognizing that alcohol controls one’s life and that true change requires outside help.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity: Members are encouraged to believe in a force—spiritual, communal, or otherwise—that can help them regain control of their lives.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him: This step involves a conscious choice to trust in a higher power, as each person defines it, to guide their recovery.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves: Members honestly assess their past actions, behaviors, and emotions to understand themselves better.
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: Sharing one’s moral inventory with a trusted person helps alleviate guilt and promotes honesty.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character: This step prepares members for the transformation of their negative traits.
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings: Members seek help from their higher power to overcome character defects identified in previous steps.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all: Identifying those hurt by one’s actions is the first step toward reconciliation.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others: This step involves taking action to repair harm, provided it does not cause further damage.
Continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it: Ongoing self-reflection ensures members remain accountable in their daily lives.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out: Members strengthen their spiritual connection through regular practice.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs: The final step encourages members to share their experience and support others in recovery.

Getting Started with AA in Tennessee, Shelby, Memphis, USA

The easiest way to find local AA meetings in Memphis is to use the comprehensive directory at wfmh.org, which provides up-to-date listings for all types of meetings, including both in-person and online options. Most Memphis-area groups now offer both traditional face-to-face meetings and virtual attendance, making support accessible regardless of personal circumstances.

Attending Your First Local AA Meeting

AA meetings in Memphis are divided into open and closed formats:

Meeting Type	Description
Open Meeting	Anyone may attend, including those who are not alcoholics but wish to learn about AA.
Closed Meeting	For individuals who identify as alcoholics only.

When attending your first meeting, it’s helpful to arrive a little early to introduce yourself as a newcomer and meet the group leaders or greeters. You are encouraged to share your experiences if you feel comfortable, but there is no obligation to speak. At your first meeting, you may receive a “welcome” keychain tag, which is a symbol of acceptance and the beginning of your recovery journey.

As you continue in recovery, AA celebrates various milestones with additional keychain tags:

30 days: This tag marks your first month of sobriety, a significant achievement in early recovery.
60 days: Recognizing two months of continuous sobriety, this tag encourages continued commitment.
90 days: Acknowledging three months, this tag often coincides with noticeable personal growth.
6 months: Celebrating half a year of sobriety, this milestone reflects dedication to the program.
1 year: This tag honors a full year of sobriety, highlighting the transformative power of the AA program.
Subsequent years: Annual milestones continue to be recognized, supporting long-term recovery.

AA in Memphis is built on community, mutual respect, and the shared goal of sobriety. No matter where you are in your journey, there is a meeting and a support system ready to welcome you.