Tradition Two
Tradition Two
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience; our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern
Firstly what are the Traditions?
A.A. has evolved a set of traditional principles by which we all live and work together in harmony, and thus relate ourselves to the world around us. They respect the distilled experience of our past and we rely upon them to carry us in unity through the challenges and dangers which the future may bring.
I myself have been to many group conscience meetings at my home group over the years. I have grown to love them as they are where the important decisions regarding my home group are discussed and voted upon. I haven't always been so enthusiastic about these group meetings. In my early recovery I found it hard to understand what was happening, but being a member of my group I had the right to speak out and to be listened to. I also had the right to one vote, which I have always used. It’s been interesting over the years to participate and vote on my own conscience, disregarding the way my sponsor or elder statesmen of the group may vote. What ever the outcome of any vote, this is Tradition two working for us as a group. Also, having been through the service structure at my home group I have had the privilege to be on the steering committee. Again the ultimate authority is a loving God wherever decisions have to be made that may affect the group as a whole.
When ideas are put forward by any member of my home group, irrespective of their knowledge or sobriety time, as a group we listen. I have heard viable ideas and suggestions – relating to how we can best carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic or make important changes at group level – from both newcomers and old-timers alike. As a group we may vote on these ideas and on occasions the decision may not go the way of the old-timer or elder statesmen of the group. This doesn't make the group conscience wrong; it is our loving God expressing himself in our group conscience. However, we do sometimes get the leaders standing fast on matters of importance and using whatever means possible (Concept 9). That sometimes means having sponsees vote the same way, or whatever means possible on things that will affect the group and/or carry a message. We sometimes don’t agree but our leaders do tend to have good foresight.
I have seen decisions made and approved by the vote that I may not agree with, but this program of A.A. has enabled me to have acceptance in my life. I can accept the outcome of any decision made by my group as a whole and then go on to be of service to my group and A A as a whole. I believe there is no clearer evidence for a higher power operating in A.A. then this.
In my experience I have never been told to do anything at my home group, there is no-one in charge. If this was the case I would not have been attracted to A.A. in the first case and I would never have been restored to sanity, nor would I have recovered from the seemingly helpless state of mind and body that we call alcoholism. I was rebellious and non-conformist to the core before I arrived, and upon stumbling into the A.A. meeting that is now my home group, I could see that it was organised at all levels. There were leaders, but they were just trusted servants trying to carry the A.A. message to the still-suffering alcoholic. I was given a lifeline for the first time in my life.
In my experience to date the old-timers, leaders and elder statesman within my group will willingly surrender to the group conscience, but we will always turn to them in times of difficulty for the guidance that only their longer experience in A.A. can give.
The leaders and elder statesman in my group lead by example. I am a leader today, always ready to help carry the message of A.A. – and my own experience – to the man or woman who reaches out for the hand of A.A. I have recently been voted into Plymouth Intergroup representing A.A. as ‘prison liaison officer'. I will do my best 'God-willing' to carry out this position to the best of my ability. I can always draw on the experience of our leaders. I will be a trusted servant to A.A. in this position, and so long as I never try to govern I will be giving my best to A.A. and the still-suffering alcoholic.
Our Traditions will never change but in this day and age, new ideas are bestowed to us and in an ever-changing world we must keep a loving God as our ultimate authority at group level.
Andy P., Road to Recovery group, Plymouth