The CSTCC welcomes Questions from the Fellowship concerning the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts. Our responses are individual, and neither binding nor authoritative. We do not speak for the whole of S.L.A.A.
Question from the Fellowship (Committee Reference #2024-6):
What can a member do when they disagree with the group conscience of a meeting or Intergroup? Do the Traditions require us to yield in good spirit to the group conscience? If, as the minority, we believe the majority is wrong on an issue, how can we apply the Steps, Traditions and Concepts to the situation?
Response #1:
When I disagree with a group conscience decision, I voice my opposition and/or propose a new motion at the next business meeting. Life is political and program is as well. It’s about my relationships with others. Outside of business meetings is where I find “kindred spirits”. If I can find attending members with similar feelings, then we can institute change for the will of a majority of the members which can be the conduit of the will of a higher power.
Response #2:
How do we reconcile disagreement, disgruntlement with the group conscience? I think we may turn to our sponsors, who will refer to S.L.A.A. principles for guidance.
Tradition Two – respect our collective decision even if you disagree; Tradition One (unity) – prioritize unity and common welfare; Concept Five (group autonomy) – groups right to make its own decisions; and our steps. Step Three – turn it over; Step Ten – self-reflection; Step Eleven – seek guidance from our sponsor or trusted servant or member.
Let’s remember that the S.L.A.A. Traditions encourage yielding, in good spirit, to the group conscience. Yet, it also allows for respectful sharing of “minority opinions”.
We can voice disagreements while honoring and respecting Unity, common welfare, carrying the message of recovery, and S.L.A.A.’s primary purpose.
Response #3:
Admission of powerlessness over people, places and things is the first step on the road of recovery. Every group or intergroup has the right to be wrong under the concepts, and a person is not required to yield in good spirit to a group or intergroup that is wrong.
This is also relevant to the serenity prayer. Every person has the responsibility to pray for the wisdom to discern what can be accepted and what can be changed. God gives each person the freedom to choose what is right from wrong.
What comes to mind is Sign of Recovery Four; sometimes God removes a person from a spiritually, morally or psychologically harmful situation via a group conscience.
Each person brings their own God or their own Higher Power to the voting table. Each person has to discern if their God or Higher Power is the same God or Higher Power of the group or intergroup.
In S.L.A.A. there tends to be a more secular humanist focus then other 12 step fellowships, which means a group or intergroup that tends to believe more in a Higher Power might be at odds with a member that believes in a God.
Response #4:
I would bring it up at a business meeting, and if majority agrees with the decision, and I don’t feel it goes along with traditions, concepts, or the format of the meeting, I would prefer to leave that meeting. An example could be discussions of politics or religion, which are outside issues, as outside issue, and then the business meeting would fail to address it.
Response #5:
Our 12th concept contains our warranties one of which is [we] “will always remain democratic in thought and action.”
Thus, in general, our service bodies rely on the majority vote of those at business meetings. We call this our group conscience. However, we resist simply following the majority opinion. A true group conscience respects minority opinion, often delaying votes until minority opinion has been fully expressed and considered. Delay can extend over months and sometimes a vote may be put off indefinitely. Our fourth warranty calls for “substantial unanimity.” That is, a simple majority is not sufficient to maintain group unity. An action that cannot attain substantial unanimity needs to be put off.
Even then it is important to acknowledge that we — our group conscience — may be wrong. We are human and make mistakes. Group conscience is not sacrosanct; it hopefully represents our best human effort at the time.
Concept Five guarantees we always have the right of appeal. If a group decision is not unanimous, discussion should continue even after a vote has been taken and action on an issue has commenced. So, yielding in good spirit may not be appropriate. Continuing, however, in good and loving spirit is always appropriate, whether it be in further discussion, establishing a separate service entity, or even some form of civil, loving disobedience.
For myself, I find great comfort in Tradition Nine. I remind myself that we are not organized. Our service structure is highly organized, but our recovery meetings, our groups, are not organized. They offer a sacred space where between an opening prayer and a closing prayer we are all equals And the votes and rules and procedures of our service structure have little bearing. It is my fellows and my higher power who help me stay sober.
Response #6:
When a member disagrees with a group conscience, they can exercise the “Right of Appeal”, whose principle is laid out in Concept Five. This would give the member an opportunity to give their minority opinion to the group and also air any personal grievances. I have seen a group change their vote after receiving a minority opinion, which in my experience is this Concept in action.
The member could also reference Concept Twelve, Warranty “d” which states: “that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity”. If there was quite a bit of conflict and dissent, then it is possible that substantial unanimity was not reached. In that case, it could be suggested to table the motion / discussion for another day or time.
The second part of this Question asks whether the Traditions require us to yield in good spirit. All members have the right (and possibly obligation) to utilize Concepts Five and Twelve if they feel strongly about an issue. But, if the group conscience remains the same, then aligning with Traditions One and Two is in each members best interest. Per Tradition One, our personal recovery depends upon unity. Per Tradition Two, a loving God is expressed through the group conscience. For me, accepting that my Higher Power was integral in the decision-making process, and will be taking care of me regardless of the outcome, is the best way to have peace, serenity and spiritual growth in the program.
I have addressed the third part of this Question in my responses to the first two parts, so I have nothing further to add on this.
