The Twelve Concepts

An Introduction

(The following article was presented at the West Central Regional Forum, September 11-13, 2009 by Scott A., Panel 59 Delegate Area 36 - Southern Minnesota)

The Twelve Concepts for World Service can be found a number of places in our literature. If you pick up a copy of our Big Book, fourth edition, look on pages 574 & 575 and you will find them. I know of one group that reads them at the opening of their meeting along with the Traditions. There is a pamphlet (P-8) called “The Twelve Concepts for World Service illustrated which has turned out to be a valuable tool for short talks on the Concepts at District meetings. The second half of our A.A. service manual is dedicated in detail to the Twelve Concepts. More and more we are starting to see Concept study groups emerge and take shape. I’ve known of at least four of them.

The “Twelve Concepts for World Service” are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure. They reveal the evolution by which it has arrived in its present form, and they detail the experience and reasoning on which our operation stands today. These Concepts therefore aim to record the “why” of our service structure in such a fashion that the highly valuable experience of the past, and the lessons we have drawn from the experience, can never be forgotten or lost.

As Bill set them down, the Twelve Concepts are a potpourri: Concepts III through V, IX and XII deal with spiritual principals; the remainder, though they have spiritual overtones, are devoted to describing the relationship of the various service entities and how they work together.

In our A.A. Service Manual it states that the Concepts were written by Bill Wilson in 1962. The fact is that he started writing them in 1955 and proposed them to the Board of Trustees and the Delegates at the 1962 General Service Conference. It was the outcome of long reflection and extensive consultation.

I often wondered how he was able to get the Concepts passed through the Board and the General Service Conference being as lengthy as they are. We, as good alcoholics, can spend years picking apart the wording in a pamphlet but something as significant as this has no problem. What happened was he had seven proposals for the structure of the General Service Board that he proposed at the same time. The seven proposals were very controversial and took all attention away from the Concepts. To this date, we are still debating some of Bill’s seven proposals. I guess the Concepts just kind of slid underneath the door without getting much attention.

Just like our Twelve Traditions, the Twelve Concepts were born out of the mistakes and growing pains of our past experiences and were designed to be guidelines for our service structure as it grows.

The Concepts were designed to be changed and amended as future needs arise in our service structure and they did. Unforeseen flaws in the structure of the time will doubtless show up later on. It became clear that we need to have them as a point of safe return so we won’t have to suffer the painful repetition of mistakes already made. In 1985 the General Service Conference recommended that they be printed in their original form as written in 1962 so we always have a safe place to start over from. Footnotes will note the changes made over the years.

There is one exception to making changes in the Twelve Concepts. Concept Twelve which is also known as our “Warranties” requires the written consent of three quarters of all the registered groups in the world just like our Twelve Traditions. It has to be done within a six month period. Not an easy task.

These are just a few reflections of my own on our Twelve Concepts.

1. Our group conscience does have the final responsibility and ultimate authority over our world services. Does my home group have a voice?
2. The Conference will act for the groups. Do we understand our history?
3. We trust our elected servants. Do we inform or instruct our trusted servants?
4. There are no second class A.A.’s. Do we practice the “Right of Participation” in our Area’s? In our Districts?
5. We will listen to the minority. Do we understand the importance of all points of view being heard?
6. The Trustees carry out the recommendations of the Conference. What is an “Advisory Action”?
7. We have a balance of power between the Trustees and the Conference. Do we act responsibly regarding the ”Power of the Purse”?
8. We trust our Trustees to manage the business affairs of our world services. Do we understand “Delegation”?
9. We need good leadership at all levels. Do we think about this on a full time basis or just at election time? Are our elections turning into popularity contests?
10. We need to give our trusted servants the authority to carry out their jobs. Do we have a hard time keeping trusted servants involved?
11. We need qualified staff to get our work done. Are we choosing the best qualified servants in paid positions as well as volunteers?
12. Our Warranties:
    • How do we guard against becoming a “seat of perilous wealth or power?”
    • How do we practice prudent use of our Seventh Tradition contributions and literature revenue?
    • Do we insure the spiritual liberties of all A.A. members by not placing any member in the position of absolute authority over others?
    • Do we try to reach important decisions by thorough discussion, vote and, where possible, substantial unanimity?
    • As guardians of A.A.’s traditions, are we ever justified in being personally punitive?
    • Are we careful to avoid public controversy?
    • Do we always try to treat each other with mutual respect and love?

Thank you for allowing me to serve.