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 #2024-9):
There are several WhatsApp groups that have formed as an outcome of all the zoom meetings. One of the groups uses the SLAA name in the title, and has recently posted a workshop flyer on the App that is not SLAA related. The individual facilitating this workshop is requesting that anyone wishing to participate in it contact them on their personal number.
My concern is that a newcomer will believe this is an SLAA event because it’s listed on an SLAA titled WhatsApp group. My question: Is posting a non-SLAA workshop in an SLAA titled group (WhatsApp) breaking any Traditions?
Response #1:
According to Tradition Four, each group is autonomous, except in ways it affects the fellowship as a whole. And According to Tradition Three, any two people gathered together for recovery from sex and love addiction may call themselves an SLAA group.
Therefore, this Whatsapp Group may call themselves an SLAA group if they choose to, and as such, they may operate as they please to achieve their goals.
Referencing an outside issue is generally inadvisable, according to Tradition Ten, in which SLAA has no opinion on outside issues. Based on what we’ve been told in the question, it’s possible that an outside issue may be drawn into this group’s work, and could be disrupting Tradition Five, which lets us know we have only one primary purpose, but that being said, we don’t necessarily have enough information to make that decision.
If they are in conflict with Tradition Ten, disrupting Tradition Five, we must remember that these are Traditions rather than rules, and that there are shades of grey within them. If this is a truly outside issue, they could perhaps consider a different course, and a group conscience within that group might solve that. As we know, there is no enforcement body in SLAA or any twelve step programs, so there is no real way for anyone to stop this group from breaking the traditions if they are doing so.
I also just want to add that Tradition Twelve tells us that anonymity is the foundation of our program, and that Tradition Eleven tells us we must maintain public anonymity, but it does not tell us that we must maintain personal anonymity between each other. Therefore, using personal info for meeting contact information and service contact information, as well as, even, to process treasury using personal information, is not against traditions.
However, no one should profit personally from their membership in SLAA. So, more information is needed, but hopefully these thoughts provide some framework that the group can use to discuss it at their business meeting and make a decision on the matter.
Response #2:
Tradition Four states that each group is autonomous unless affecting another group or the program as a whole by their actions. The inclusion of a non-SLAA workshop in a meeting (whether virtual or in person) would not seem to affect any other groups or the program, so the action is in keeping with this Tradition.
Tradition Five indicates that our main purpose is to carry the message to suffering Sex and Love Addicts. A workshop that is unrelated to the program would not be consistent with this tradition, and could be confusing to a newcomer as to what our primary purpose actually is. And while there could be helpful information in the workshop, it would not be directly supportive of our common goal.
As for the personal phone number being used, I do not see a conflict with any traditions. I often use my personal number or email as a contact for program related activities because it is the best way to reach me.
