Question
2:
Would
the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations
whether, throughout AA's service structure, members of special
interest groups are sufficiently represented?
[See
also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]
Extracts:
“ I
think the debate has gone a little “off topic” and has more to do
with the debate in Committee 5 question 2. In reply to …...., there
is an alternative which is neither idle threat nor censure: Assertive
action by the AA group conscience and those who are trusted to serve
it at all levels; a calm affirmative statement of AA Traditions and
the General Warranties of Conference (Concept XII).
There is a vitally important qualification for AA membership which applies to an AA group. Groups that do not meet this qualification cannot insist they be called AA groups. There is also duty for “trusted Servants” to exercise leadership (Concept IX) to protect the AA name and a duty for them to inform the general public of misuses of the AA name. (Concept XII, Warranty Five). The following excerpts from AA literature explain:
"Our membership Tradition does contain, however, one vitally important qualification. That qualification relates to the use of our name Alcoholics Anonymous. We believe that any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. Here our purpose is clear and unequivocal. For obvious reasons we wish the name Alcoholics Anonymous to be used only in connection with straight AA activities. One can think of no AA member who would like, for example, to see the formation of “dry” AA groups, “wet” AA groups, Republican AA groups, communist AA groups. Few, if any, would wish our groups to be designated by religious denominations. We cannot lend the AA name, even indirectly, to other activities, however worthy. If we do so we shall become hopelessly compromised and divided. We think that AA should offer its experience to the whole world for whatever use can be made of it. But not its name. Nothing could be more certain." (Bill W., extract, “Tradition Three”, AA Grapevine, February 1948, The Language of the Heart pp 79-80)
“Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation” (Tradition Four)
“Finally, any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other purpose or affiliation”. (Concept XII, Warranty Six)
"And also, if various hippie addicts want to form their own sort of fellowship along AA lines, by all means let us encourage them. We need deny them only the AA name, and assure them that the rest of our program is theirs for the taking and using--any part or all of it.” – Bill W. (Extract of a Letter to an AA member; “The Traditions in Action” AA Grapevine March 1971)
“But obviously, such a dual purpose group should not insist that it be called an AA group nor should it use the AA name in its title.” (Bill W. “Problems Other than Alcohol” AA Grapevine February 1958; The Language of the Heart pages 222-225).
If a group of alcoholics is not engaged in using the AA name “only in connection with straight AA activities” then there is no obligation for an intergroup to accept it as an AA group. In fact, in certain circumstances, I think there is a duty to in Tradition One and the General Warranties of Conference to reject it until it does. Returning to this committee topic, it seems to me that “special interest” or “dual purpose” groups do not qualify for AA membership. They cannot insist they be called AA groups, nor should they use the AA name in their title. Therefore, it would not be a bright idea for any special interest groups to be represented in the AA service structure; because such representation will lead us to become hopelessly compromised and divided.“
There is a vitally important qualification for AA membership which applies to an AA group. Groups that do not meet this qualification cannot insist they be called AA groups. There is also duty for “trusted Servants” to exercise leadership (Concept IX) to protect the AA name and a duty for them to inform the general public of misuses of the AA name. (Concept XII, Warranty Five). The following excerpts from AA literature explain:
"Our membership Tradition does contain, however, one vitally important qualification. That qualification relates to the use of our name Alcoholics Anonymous. We believe that any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. Here our purpose is clear and unequivocal. For obvious reasons we wish the name Alcoholics Anonymous to be used only in connection with straight AA activities. One can think of no AA member who would like, for example, to see the formation of “dry” AA groups, “wet” AA groups, Republican AA groups, communist AA groups. Few, if any, would wish our groups to be designated by religious denominations. We cannot lend the AA name, even indirectly, to other activities, however worthy. If we do so we shall become hopelessly compromised and divided. We think that AA should offer its experience to the whole world for whatever use can be made of it. But not its name. Nothing could be more certain." (Bill W., extract, “Tradition Three”, AA Grapevine, February 1948, The Language of the Heart pp 79-80)
“Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation” (Tradition Four)
“Finally, any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other purpose or affiliation”. (Concept XII, Warranty Six)
"And also, if various hippie addicts want to form their own sort of fellowship along AA lines, by all means let us encourage them. We need deny them only the AA name, and assure them that the rest of our program is theirs for the taking and using--any part or all of it.” – Bill W. (Extract of a Letter to an AA member; “The Traditions in Action” AA Grapevine March 1971)
“But obviously, such a dual purpose group should not insist that it be called an AA group nor should it use the AA name in its title.” (Bill W. “Problems Other than Alcohol” AA Grapevine February 1958; The Language of the Heart pages 222-225).
If a group of alcoholics is not engaged in using the AA name “only in connection with straight AA activities” then there is no obligation for an intergroup to accept it as an AA group. In fact, in certain circumstances, I think there is a duty to in Tradition One and the General Warranties of Conference to reject it until it does. Returning to this committee topic, it seems to me that “special interest” or “dual purpose” groups do not qualify for AA membership. They cannot insist they be called AA groups, nor should they use the AA name in their title. Therefore, it would not be a bright idea for any special interest groups to be represented in the AA service structure; because such representation will lead us to become hopelessly compromised and divided.“
Comment:
to the above list of 'exclusions' it logically follows that such
denominations as “Mens”, Womens”, “Newcomers”, “Gay”,
“Straight”, “Agnostic”, “Atheist”, “Christian”,
“Young Peoples” groups be added. All place a further restriction
to admission to the group and to the meeting over and above the ONLY
requirement for AA membership ie. a desire to stop drinking.
Accordingly these groups neither are nor should refer to themselves
as AA groups or meetings.
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
See
also AA Minority Report 2013
