Thoughts on Tradition Four from the Shropshire (UK) Intergroup (More HERE):

Short form

Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

Long form

With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority other than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.

 

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A member who does any amount of travelling finds the AA spirit much the same everywhere. But apart from this inward kinship, there are vast differences among groups. Here, the traveller finds three members discussing the Steps in somebody's living room; there, 300 listening to speakers in a church auditorium. In one part of the U.S., respectful silence greets the speaker who begins, "My name is Ann, and I am an alcoholic." In another, everybody happily shouts , "Hi, Ann!" And in many other places, she may introduce herself with her full name–at a one-hour meeting or a 90-minute meeting. In each neighbourhood in every part of the world reached by AA, the local group is free to work out its own customs.

As always, freedom brings responsibility. Because each group is autonomous, it's up to each group to avoid any action that might harm AA. And there have been such actions–or this Tradition would be unnecessary. "Implicit throughout AA's Traditions," Bill W. wrote, "is the confession that our Fellowship has its sins. We admit that we have character defects as a society and these defects threatens us continually."

Blown up to multiple size, the Big Ego may inspire one group to take over all the public information work for its area, without consulting any of the other local groups. Once the group has decided, "We have all the answers," the lid's off. The group may then decide that, let's say, the Eleventh Tradition is an outdated technicality: "This is a competitive age! We're going to come right out and give AA some good vigorous promoting!" To the general public, this one conspicuous group is AA. Its antics reflect, not only on the ignored neighbouring groups, but on the entire Fellowship.

In a way, The Fourth Tradition is like the Fourth Step: It suggests that the AA group should take honest inventory of itself, asking about each of its independently planned actions, "Would this break any Tradition?" Like the individual member who chooses to make the Steps his or her guide toward happy sobriety, the wise group recognises that the Traditions are not hindering technicalities–they are proved guides toward the chief objective of all AA groups...

Tradition Four Discussion Questions

1. Does my group always consider the welfare of the rest of AA? Of nearby groups? Of Internationalists miles from port?
2. Do I put down other groups when they operate differently from mine, or do I learn from it?
3. Am I mindful of the fact that with autonomy comes the responsibility of maintaining unity?
4. Do I always bear in mind that, to those outsiders who know I am in AA, I may to some extent represent our entire beloved Fellowship?

Thoughts on Tradition Four

This is a tradition that is often cited when groups choose to undertake activities that other groups or service bodies find worrying. It is most often quoted only by stating that all groups are autonomous, but there's a second more complex part to this tradition that requires as much attention. The exception. That AA groups should be autonomous except in matters affecting AA groups or AA as a whole. Decisions taken at group level can and do affect other groups or AA.

A recent example that comes to mind was of an AA group who had decided to start a new meeting. There had been some disagreements in their existing group and a split had occurred. These individuals decided to start a new group and have its meeting at the same time and in the same town as the existing group. This was a matter that was later discussed at Intergroup where the original group had asked for advice. It was felt that the new group had weakened AA in that town because the groups were fundamentally in competition and were in an area already well served by AA. (The risks of too many meetings and not enough groups is a genuine one.) All groups are autonomous and so rather than issue an instruction to the new group, the Intergroup asked the breakaway group to reconsider their meeting time and location. The new group refused. Several months later both the new and old groups folded, such was the animosity between them and the lack of support from local AA members.

So with the freedom of autonomy comes responsibility. But what happens when a group breaks the traditions or risks damaging the reputation of AA? No service body can issue instructions or enforce compliance, group autonomy is to be respected. However, Intergroups, Regions and GSO can ask groups to reconsider their decisions and make recommendations.