The 12 Concepts of AA do for AA as a world-wide organizations what the
12 Steps do for personal recovery and what the
12 Traditions do for harmonious and effective functioning of AA Groups.(More
information about AA's 12 Steps and 12 Traditions can be found in the AA books,
Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.)
The 12 Concepts for World Service provide the framework within which AA as a
world-wide organization functions. The 12 Concepts are listed below in
"short form." For a detailed explanation on how they operate, obtain a
copy of the most current edition of the AA book, The A.A. Service Manual
combined with Twelve Concepts for World Service by Bill W.
1. Final responsibility and
ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the
collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
2. The
General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every
practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole
Society in world affairs.
3. To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. -- the
Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs,
committees, and executives -- with a traditional "Right
of Decision."
4. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional "Right
of Participation," allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion
to the responsibility that each must discharge.
5. Throughout our structure, a traditional "Right of
Appeal" ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and
personal grievances receive careful consideration.
6. The Conference recognizes that the
chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters
should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the
General Service Board.
7. The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments,
empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The
Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon
tradition and the A.A.purse
for final effectiveness.
8. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy
and finance. They have custodial
oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services,
exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these
entities.
9. Good service
leadership
at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety.
Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must
necessarily be assumed by the trustees.
10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service
authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
11. The trustees should always have
the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives,
staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualification, induction procedures,
and the rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.
12. The Conference shall observe the
spirit of AA. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of
perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its
prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of
unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by
discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its
actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy;
that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Society it serves,
it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
This Website is neither endorsed nor approved by Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc.
It is solely provided for informational purposes and to reach out to the
alcoholic who still suffers.
Some of the items on these pages were originally published by A.A. World
Services, but do not assume that this
implies continued approval by the General Service Conference for their use in
these pages.
Alcoholics Anonymous®, A.A.®, and The Big Book® are registered trademarks of
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
The Grapevine® and AA Grapevine® are registered trademarks of The AA Grapevine,
Inc.
Lorain
Inter-Group Office
