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)
