Strong, weak or diluted leadership?

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old)

“Hi …...

I agree the cult groups will eventually fold, once they are separated from the GSO. The problem is that they are not separate at this time. By strong leadership I didn’t mean power-driving leadership, but leadership within the group conscience and service structure that is strong enough to protect against power-drivers, to protect the AA name and vulnerable newcomers. Leadership that doesn’t sit on the fence. Leadership that is not timid, but both prudent and assertive.  Leadership which can say “No you can’t do that and call yourself an AA group” And if power-drivers continue to break traditions, then they refuse to co-operate with them.  Like the “Trusted Servants” in Ireland. The Big Book Study Movement is outside the Service structure in Ireland and they have written it into their Service Handbook. It is an outside organisation.

Quote from the Service Handbook for Ireland:

"...New groups applying for a starter kit do so through the Intergroup Secretary via the Area Secretary.

Big Book Study Movement is outside the structure of Alcoholics Anonymous in Ireland...."

(The Group: What Is an AA Group? Page 12) http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/download/1/Service%20Handbook%202012.pdf

Like the leadership  in this part of  Orange County USA. The following is a post from the AA Grapevine What’s On Your Mind forum, Traditions section.

"Wed, 2013-05-22 01:58

#4

Anonymous

re long form

I too have been sober a little over 33 years. In California - the land of fruits and nuts. I now live in the Palm Springs area. Before I moved here I lived in Orange County and worked at Central Office every Monday AM with my sponsor. We received a call one Monday AM from an irate sober alky. He arrived in town Sat night. Called and was told there was an AA meeting not far from where he was staying. He went there Sunday afternoon and heard nothing but Narcotics type of talk. I was a member of the 'Group Relations' Committee and told him I would look into it. Also reported this to our Central Office manager. Next Sunday I went to the meeting and sure as heck he was right.

After the meeting I took the secretary aside and told her that she was breaking AA traditions. She apologized and said that would stop. To make the long story short this happened repeatedly during the next few months. Finally our C.O. manager went to the group on a Sunday. Sure as heck they were still breaking traditions. She gave them a check for their contributions so far and told them they would be taken out of our 'AA Directory'.

It wasn't long before the group died by itself.

God took care of our problem"

So when you look the above from the point of Tradition Two Did God close down the Orange County group? Did God make the Big Book Study movement outside the service structure in Ireland? Or was it prudent and assertive leadership within the surrounding group acting on their human conscience. I think a mixture of both perhaps. I don't think the principle of Tradition Two exists without active leadership and expression of human conscience.”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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