Why
shouldn't the General Service Conference be a government
for Alcoholics Anonymous?
Answer
Each
A.A. Group is autonomous; our only "authority" is a
Higher Power. Practically speaking, no A.A. Group will
stand for a personal government anyhow; we're built
that way. Though the Conference will guide A.A. Headquarters,
it must never assume to govern A.A. as a whole. While
it can publicly deplore misuse of the A.A. name or departures
from Tradition, it ought never attempt punishment or
legal restraint of non-conformists - in A.A. or out.
That is the road to public controversy and internal
disruption. The Conference will give us an example and
a guide, but not government. A personal government is
something, God willing, that Alcoholics Anonymous will
never have. We shall authorize servants to act for us,
but not rulers. (Third Legacy Pamphlet, October 1950)
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