Tuesday AA literature post - Thoughts on Tradition One from the Shropshire (UK) Intergroup:
(More at the link: Twelve Traditions Study - Tradition One)
Short form
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
Long form
Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. AA must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.
Tradition One Discussion Questions
In my group am I a healing, mending, integrating person, or am I divisive? What about gossip and taking other members’ inventories?
Am I a peacemaker? Or do I, with pious preludes such as “just for the sake of discussion,” plunge into argument?
Am I gentle with those who rub me the wrong way, or am I abrasive?
Do I put down some AA activities as if I were superior for not participating in this or that aspect of AA?
Am I informed about AA as a whole? Do I support, in every way I can, AA as a whole, or just the parts I understand and approve of?
Am I as considerate of AA members as I want them to be of me?
Do I spout platitudes about love while indulging in and secretly justifying behaviour that bristles with hostility?
Do I go to enough AA meetings or read enough AA literature to really keep in touch?
Do I consider the welfare of all members my home group or just those I like?
Do we listen to the minority in discussions and ensure their inclusion?
Thoughts on Tradition One
This first tradition acts as a bookend to the rest of the traditions and tells us why we have them – unity. In many ways, the later traditions describe specific ways to protect our unity.
Interestingly it highlights a common misconception found in many AA groups that the individual is most important in the fellowship. This tradition makes clear that it is the group as one that matters most. After all, without the group, where would the individual go for help? Without the group we are all lost. So it is the unity of the AA group that matters most.
This tradition gives us a principle to work to rather than a rule. Simply instructing members with directions on behaviour simply won't work. As is often said, AA's don't do rules. But by working towards a principle we can find our way without enforcing rules on one another.
This tradition makes clear that we cannot let a single individual bring down a whole group. We can think about those who engage in predatory or aggressive behaviour or makes attempts to dominate or control the group. A question often raised at this point is whether or not we can ask a person to leave a meeting. The answer to this is an emphatic yes, if they are damaging the unity of the group. However, the final discipline comes from God and not the group. After all, failure to respect the unity of the group will likely lead the individual into resentment and possible relapse. We are each a part of a great whole, so there is no room for the big shot or egotist.
This tradition is often used as justification for raising the issue of irritating behaviour at group meetings. This can include excessive swearing, sharing for too long or interrupting speakers. After all, if people are put off going to a group because of one individuals inconsiderate behaviour, the group has a responsibility to act, albeit with love and compassion.
At the 1970 international AA convention the statement of unity was read and taken as the theme.
This we owe to A.A.'s future:
To place our common welfare first;
To keep our Fellowship united.
For on A.A. unity depend our lives,
And the lives of those to come.
It is worth highlighting that unity does not mean unanimity. Disagreements are highly probable within a group. It would be impossible for everyone to agree on everything all the time. So Concept 12 comes to the rescue with a principle we can all adopt at all service levels, that of 'substantial unanimity'. This is defined in the The A.A. Service Manual combine with Twelve Concepts for World Service as follows:
Substantial unanimity typically means a two-thirds (or more) majority. In some situations, this might even be a three-fourths (or more) majority. This standard is typically employed for issues that are controversial or complex and for the elections of some positions in general service. This can help to promote unity in the area body. Simple majority is typically defined as one-half of the body plus one. This standard is generally employed for simple or routine matters.
Although not conference approved literature, below is a useful quote taken from the non-AA publication 24 Hours a Day.
If we feel the need of saying something to put another member on the right track, we should try to say it with understanding and sympathy, not with a critical attitude. We should keep everything out in the open and aboveboard. The AA program is wonderful, but we must really follow it. We must all pull together, or we’ll all be sunk. We enjoy the privilege of being associated with AA, and we are entitled to all its benefits. But gossip and criticism are not tolerance, and tolerance is an AA principle that is absolutely necessary to group unity. Am I truly tolerant of all my group’s members?
It is also worth highlighting the warranties of Concept 12 which also refer to 'substantial unanimity'.
General Warranties of the Conference: in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition, taking great care that the Conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference Members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that, though the Conference may act for the service of Alcoholics Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.
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