To date, S.L.A.A.’s Conference-approved literature consists only of the following twenty-nine items:
- The S.L.A.A. Basic Text, and all material contained within it
- Addiction and Recovery (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Welcome (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Suggestions for Newcomers (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Questions Beginners Ask (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Pocket Toolkit (S.L.A.A. mini-pamphlet)
- Anorexia (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- 40 Questions for Self Diagnosis (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Sponsorship (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Withdrawal (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- An Introduction to S.L.A.A. (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Supporting S.L.A.A. the 60/40 Way (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- 12 Recommended Guidelines for Dealing with the Public Media (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- the Journal publication (but not the stories in it)
- Renewal of Sobriety (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Addicted to Sex? Addicted to Love? (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- For the Professional: Information about S.LA.A. (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Setting Bottom Lines (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Romantic Obsession (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Triggers as a Resource (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- Measuring Progress (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Healthy Relationships (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Anorexia Recovery Tools (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- A Guide to the Steps: Companion to Chapter Four (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- Is it Really Necessary? (S.L.A.A. pamphlet)
- Anorexia 1-2-3 (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- Anorexia 4-5-6-7 (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- The Gift of No Contact (S.L.A.A. booklet)
- A State of Grace: Daily Meditations (S.L.A.A. book)
- The Step Questions Workbook (S.L.A.A. workbook)
Additionally, the F.W.S. office has the authority to sell the following, which could be considered literature:
- S.L.A.A. bookmark, containing an index of recovery terms and concepts included in the Basic Text
- Recovery CDs and MP3s
- F.W.S. Newsletter
The only other official positions concerning literature that are known follow:
- “These steps were first published in Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) and received a more detailed treatment in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1953), both of which were written by Bill W. In presenting the S.L.A.A. version of the Twelve Steps here, we wish to do what A.A. had in mind in presenting them initially in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. … If you are thinking as you read this book
that S.L.A.A. may be a fellowship worth serious consideration for your own problems, we recommend that you also read the books Alcoholics Anonymous (especially chapters 5-7) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. We have found these books, in spite of their occasionally somewhat dated ideas and language, to be surprisingly appropriate and useful to us in applying the Twelve Steps to sex and love addiction. We substitute such words as ‘our addiction’ or ‘sex and love addiction’ for the direct references to alcoholism in those books. … The Twelve Steps, as originally set forth in Alcoholics Anonymous, do provide a comprehensive and thorough approach to the problem of dealing with addiction, including sex and love addiction.” (S.L.A.A. Basic Text, pages 66-67) - “The Conference understands that some patterns of our addiction have a lack of experience reflected within our literature. In an effort to fill this gap, we encourage members to submit their personal experience to the Journal and the Conference Literature Committee for sharing with the entire Fellowship. While each group is autonomous, the Conference does not encourage the use of non-Conference
Approved literature (outside literature does not include S.L.A.A. literature in draft form). If any group chooses to use non-Conference Approved literature, it ought to be clearly defined as such. We do encourage the practice of our 12 Steps and 12 Traditions for all members and groups in recovery from our addiction.” (Adopted by the 2002 Conference) - “The Board of Trustees, at its December 6, 1997 meeting, verified that A.A. literature is not conference approved. It is recommended reading. There has been no motion passed that made it conference approved literature. Please pass the word on to those that ask.” (Announced in the January 1998 F.W.S. Newsletter)
- “The Board of Trustees (BOT) of Fellowship Wide Services (F.W.S.) has been requested by the Conference of Delegates to send this letter to you. A motion was passed at the last Annual Business Meeting (ABM) that requested the BOT to encourage all groups in the fellowship to use conference approved literature. The intent of this letter is to carry forward the positive tone of the motion. The operative word in this effort is ‘encourage.’
- “The BOT and Delegates are very sensitive to, and supportive of, group autonomy as expressed in the S.L.A.A. Fourth Tradition. Please communicate to your group(s) that the BOT and the Delegates to the ABM do not wish to interfere in any way with group autonomy. We are also mindful of the suggestion given to members to read certain Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) literature, particularly the Big Book and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, as mentioned in the S.L.A.A. Basic Text. However, the use of
non-conference approved literature, particularly commercial literature used exclusively by some S.L.A.A. meetings, has led to difficulties with unity among the fellowship. The First Tradition reminds us that: ‘Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon S.L.A.A. unity.’ - “Another issue for your group to consider is the matter of endorsement raised by the S.L.A.A. Sixth Tradition. This tradition states that an S.L.A.A. group or S.L.A.A. as a whole ought never to endorse any outside enterprise. The use of outside literature, particularly commercial literature in meetings, could be perceived to be inconsistent with this tradition, especially by the newcomer. Similarly, the practice of using A.A. literature, or the literature of other fellowships in meetings, could be perceived as being inconsistent with non-affiliation, as expressed by the S.L.A.A. Third Tradition.
- “Therefore, S.L.A.A. groups are encouraged to use S.L.A.A. Conference approved literature. This encouragement is intended by both the Board and the Delegates to be consistent with S.L.A.A. Second Tradition, which states: ‘For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as this Power may be expressed through our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.'” (Open Letter to the Fellowship from John S., Chair of the BOT, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, published in the January 1998 F.W.S. Newsletter)
In sum, only S.L.A.A. literature, approved by the Delegates at an Annual Business Meeting (or equivalent) by a properly constituted Conference that has passed through the Appendix I process, and has been approved by the FWS Board of Trustees qualifies as Conference-approved Literature.
Updated June 2009 by the F.W.S. Web Team and October 2011;
and by F.W.S. Office in July 2020
