Does SLAA consider the availability and use of non-religious venues for meetings and events, in order to ensure that members who feel uncomfortable or unsafe in religious settings can fully participate in the Fellowship?
Response #1:
Tradition Four: “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or SLAA as a whole.”
Since each group is autonomous – they decide when and where to hold their meetings and have many considerations (rent, parking, size of the room, privacy) and depending on the location a religious building might be the preferred option for that group.
Tradition Five: “Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the sex and love addict who still suffers.”
Step Twelve: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to sex and love addicts and to practice these principles in all areas of our lives.”
That said, having meetings in a religious building might be off putting to newcomers, interfering with our primary purpose “carrying the message” that it would be useful for meetings to consider when making the decision on where to locate.
When I came into the program as an agnostic Jew – I was not comfortable going into religious locations. Luckily there were many locations in my area that were not at religious facilities.
After going to the religion neutral locations for about a month at sponsor direction I went to my first meeting in a religious facility and saw enough of the people I knew from the other meetings that I was comfortable in a religious setting.
So, if meetings want to “carry the message to the sex and love addict that still suffers” I would suggest they strongly consider trying to find non-religious locations.
Response #2:
Each SLAA group is entirely independent. As Tradition Three states: Any two or more persons gathered together for mutual aid in recovering from sex and love addiction may call themselves an S.L.A.A. group, provided that as a group they have no other affiliation. No SLAA group ought to be affiliated with the venue in which the group meets so the fact that it may be a church that owns or operates the venue is an outside issue per tradition 10: S.L.A.A. has no opinion on outside issues; hence the S.L.A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
There are many online meetings today which do away with the need for a physical venue.
Anyone who identifies as a member of SLAA is at liberty to establish an SLAA meeting in any venue which is suitable for the meeting.
While we cannot dictate venue choices, we have found that many groups try to be mindful of accessibility and member sensitivities and select venues accordingly.
Response #3:
Yes. Within S.L.A.A. (Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous), the Traditions—especially Traditions Three, Four, Five, and Ten—support the use of non-religious venues when needed so that all who seek recovery feel welcome and safe.
Here’s how this aligns with S.L.A.A. principles and structure:
1. Tradition Three – The Only Requirement for Membership
“The only requirement for S.L.A.A. membership is a desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction.”
This means no one should feel excluded because of discomfort with a religious setting. If meeting in a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple creates a barrier to attendance for some members, groups are encouraged to consider alternatives so the Fellowship remains accessible.
2. Tradition Four – Group Autonomy
“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or S.L.A.A. as a whole.”
Individual S.L.A.A. groups decide where to meet. Many groups historically meet in religious buildings due to affordability and availability, but there is no requirement to do so. A group can choose a secular venue—community centers, libraries, rented offices, online platforms, etc.—if that better serves its members.
3. Tradition Five – Primary Purpose
“Each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its message to the sex and love addict who still suffers.”
If holding meetings in a religious venue prevents addicts from attending, the group may determine that moving to or adding a non-religious venue better fulfills its primary purpose.
4. Tradition Ten – No Opinion on Outside Issues
“S.L.A.A. has no opinion on outside issues…”
S.L.A.A. does not affiliate with or endorse any religion. While meetings may rent space from religious institutions, the Fellowship itself remains spiritually based but not religiously aligned. Groups are mindful of maintaining neutrality and ensuring members understand that the Higher Power concept is individually defined.
Practical Steps Within S.L.A.A.
If members feel uncomfortable or unsafe in a religious setting, typical S.L.A.A. process would be:
- Bring the concern to a Group Conscience meeting.
- Discuss options (alternative venues, hybrid format, additional meeting location).
- Review Traditions to ensure decisions align with inclusivity and primary purpose.
- Take a group conscience vote.
- Implement the decision while maintaining financial responsibility and accessibility.
In Summary
S.L.A.A. does not require meetings to be held in religious venues. Guided by the Traditions, especially autonomy and inclusivity, groups may—and often do—consider non-religious venues to ensure all members can fully participate in recovery.
Response #4:
Many do and some may not.
First and foremost, I want to write that our Fourth Tradition allows for each group to decide as it sees fit to do what it deems appropriate for its own needs and abilities to follow the suggestions of the principles outlined in in S.L.A.A.’s Steps, Traditions and Concepts.
My experience has made me aware that circumstances are not always possible to obtain ideal conditions to meet. In its origins, the founders faced rejection from many houses of worship to accommodate meetings due to the name and a misunderstanding its purpose. Hence, the additional name: The Augustine Fellowship.
In accordance with Tradition Five, I believe each member, group, or meeting is reminded that in the attempt to seek its own recovery to keep in mind that our primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery offered by the S.L.A.A. program and to do that considering those who attend and the conditions under that are existent.
Response #5:
I understand that members of SLAA bring their life experiences with them to meetings, and that these life experiences often include traumatic events. For this reason, members should strive to be very sensitive to the needs of each other, especially newcomers, and to try to help them feel comfortable and safe in any SLAA gathering, in person or virtual.
That being said, finding in person venues to host SLAA meetings can be challenging, and we are fortunate that religious groups are often willing to provide space for recovery under their roofs. While those who are establishing new meetings can work to find space in religiously neutral locations, that is not always possible. For those who find the idea of attending a meeting in a religious setting untenable, there are many virtual options available to them.
A member who is uncomfortable in a religious setting can be reassured by the Fifth Tradition: “Each group has but one primary purpose–to carry its message to the sex and love addict who still suffers.” These words make clear that SLAA does not carry the message of any religious group or institution, even if a meeting is using their physical space.
Additionally, the Tenth Tradition, “SLAA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the SLAA name ought never be drawn into public controversy” keeps the structure of SLAA separate from any religious or secular principles.
Many of us have mixed feelings about spirituality, God, religion, and other related ideas as they apply to our lives and our recovery. We can foster unity by sharing our own challenges around these issues with anyone who expresses discomfort so they do not feel alone in their experiences.
Response #6:
Tradition 1 (Unity)
If S.L.A.A. members feel excluded by the setting, unity can be impacted. Reviewing venue options can be a practical way to strengthen participation and unity.
Tradition 2 (Group Conscience)
Venue decisions fall within the local S.L.A.A. group’s authority by its group conscience.
Tradition 4 (Autonomy)
Each group has the autonomy to determine its own meeting location.
Tradition 5 (Primary Purpose)
Our main purpose is to carry the message. If a meeting location limits participation, evaluating alternatives supports the primary purpose.
Tradition 6 (No Endorsement)
Religious institutions are outside organizations. Meeting in one doesn’t mean endorsement unless affiliation is implied. Similarly, selecting a non-religious location should not be framed as opposition to religion.
Tradition 10 (No Opinion on Outside Issues)
Religion is an outside issue. Our language should remain focused on accessibility, unity, and our purpose – avoiding commentary on religious matters.
Response #7:
I understand the inclusivity concern expressed in this Question as I did not practice a Western based faith when I came to SLAA. So, I struggled with many of the overt and covert aspects of the program that have their basis in Christianity. For many years I would not use the word “God” when sharing or joining in meeting opening / closing prayers. It was Step Three that helped me to understand that regardless of the basis of the program, all faiths (or lack thereof) are welcome.
Step Three states that we made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God “as we understood God”. It was the ending portion of the sentence that helped me feel safe in the meeting even with my faith. It was also the people in the meetings who, in practicing the Twelfth Step, welcomed me with open arms and hearts. The Twelfth Step states that we are to “carry the message to sex and love addicts”. My experience was that the members did not care what my faith or belief system was, and they were just kind and supportive.
Over the course of time in program I’ve come to understand that many meetings and workshops are held in faith-based buildings just due to the simple fact that the space is available. The original Twelve Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, started by meeting in church basements because those churches were open to helping them. Many places were not open to having alcoholics meet on their property at that time, and in my experience, there are many places even now that are not open to having an SLAA meeting on their property.
So, while I still do not practice a Western based faith, I have come to really appreciate all faith-based organizations that open themselves up to our meetings, workshops and retreats. I see that they are truly practicing service for their communities, and I have not seen any of them trying to convert meeting members to their faith or requiring meeting members to join for the meeting to be held in their building.
Response #8:
I’d like to refer to tradition three:
“The only requirement for S.L.A.A. membership is a desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction. Any two or more per- sons gathered together for mutual aid in re- covering from sex and love addiction may call themselves an S.L.A.A. group, provided that as a group they have no other affiliation.”
Whether a group chooses to meet in a religiously affiliated location or not it is of utmost importance that the only connection required for the meeting is a sincere desire to recover from sex and love addiction. Group members may predominately share the same faith group which may happen if they meet in a place connected to or in a building with a religious affiliation. However, the conditions for the meetings would follow the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts which guide each individual member to seek identification with and connection of a higher power greater than themselves outside of themselves of their own understanding. Members relate to one and other based upon their experience strength and hope and this is the primary basis for recovery.
Response #9:
According to Tradition 10:
“SLAA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the SLAA name has never to be drawn into public controversy.”
I believe, that as it relates to the question, “outside issues” in this perspective is the location with attachment of faith practice in it. The vast majority of meetings are choosing community or certain faith practicing churches, I assume, because they are easy to find and rent is affordable.
And Tradition 3 teaches us that the only requirement for SLAA membership is to stop the pattern of sex and love addiction…… provided that as a group they have no “other affiliation”.
I also understand that the whole question is about people not feeling safe in certain settings, with the provided information in the question.
That brings us to Tradition 4.
According to Tradition 4, the group is free to choose the location, because “each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or SLAA as a whole.”
Response #10:
Because SLAA is a spiritual program, not a religious one, and is not affiliated with any religion, sect, or denomination, meetings may be held in churches, community centers, private offices, or entirely virtual.
No type of venue is required or spiritually “better” than any other. When members share that a religious setting feels like a barrier, groups are invited to listen carefully and let principles such as common welfare, inclusivity, love, and tolerance guide decisions about adding or moving to more neutral spaces, so that the message can reach every sex and love addict who still suffers.
At the same time, SLAA service materials affirm that if a member feels uncomfortable or triggered, it is their prerogative to leave for self‑care, and that self‑care takes priority; there are no rules requiring anyone to stay.
In the spirit of Traditions 1 and 4 SLAA honors both our group’s autonomy and each member’s autonomy; everyone is free to step out or leave at any time for their safety and serenity, and we support one another in making those spiritual decisions for ourselves.
