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)
