The unusual growth & structure of 12th step fellowships

Written By Rona Goold

“The acceptance of 12th Step fellowships may be challenging because of centuries long held community attitudes (prejudices?) against 

  • people with alcohol and other addiction problems and

  • against abstinence, and also perhaps more recently against

  • religion/s and/or religious beliefs.

If we can examine 12 step fellowships with an open mind in terms of how they operate, rather than what some members and/or even some helping professionals may say about them., we may be able to examine their benefits and limits in a more objective way.

AA History

The first “12th Step” fellowship was Alcoholics Anonymous that began in 1935. Initially AA was part of a back- to-basic Christian movement, called the Oxford Group Movement. This movement emphasised a home church community in a non-hierarchical structure, with all members of the community having equal status before God (i.e. a direct personal relationship with God without the clergy in-between). The movement was based a surrender to Jesus Christ (God) to pursue four moral absolutes - honesty, purity, unselfishness & love and sharing with others how their lives had been changed by doing so.  From these “absolute values” the basic tenants of the Oxford Group were developed:

  • A Complete (Ego) Deflation

  • Dependence on God.

  • A Moral inventory.

  • Confession.

  • Restitution.

  • Continued work with others in need

It was these 4 moral (ethical) values and 6 tenants, that the co-founders of AA used in their approach to guiding the development of the AA program and the fellowship. It is also interesting to note that AA was probably the first society in modern times to value “lived experience” as an “formal” aid to addressing a range of trauma based human conditions. In separating from the Oxford Group Movement, whilst holding on to a “perfection” as a goal, the co-founders settled for “progress" rather than perfection, as perfectionism was often a part of the underlying causal drive to drink.

AA Structure

So 12th Step networks consist of unincorporated autonomous groups that meet in hired venues and are self-supporting — declining any outside donations or grants etc. 

Any excess member donations in a group are forwarded to service bodies, some of which are incorporated if they handle money, sell literature and provide administrative and other services. There are some key paid positions but most of the work is done by volunteers.

There is also a limit to the amount any individual member can contribute in any financial year, and a limited amount of any bequest should a member die leaving a donation in their will. (3)

The groups agree to send delegates via areas to a national gathering called a National Conference where the delegates decide what actions are required for the common good of all the groups and members, i.e. the fellowship as a whole. Whilst the delegates are the voice of their own group, they not required, like politicians, to stick to their own group’s advice. They are empowered to make an “informed” decision for the overall common good of the fellowship and vote differently to what their own group advised, if by being part of a bigger “wiser” group, the delegates are exposed to new information.

AA Pragmatism

Some of the early decisions of the AA fellowship were to establish the least number of  legal entities to act on their behalf i.e. to serve the groups. In the modern world, telephone and other communication devices needed to be paid for, printing and publication services were required and large sums of money needed accountable and transparent financial systems, that in turn meant the fellowship had to interact with other parts of society (both government and non-government agencies).

AA Spiritual Prioritised before Material

It was recognised money could be used for good or ill, and that, if the Fellowship was to stay true to its core values, the emphasis needed to be on the “spiritual values”. In other words, the “material“ (money, possible assets etc) was to be minimal and kept in check to serve the groups and the “spiritual” values to always unselfishly take priority.

As the groups worked together, by trial and error, gaining more awareness and understanding of human nature and their own character traits as alcoholics, the suggested 12 steps, traditions and concepts of service evolved. These guidelines and principles have informed and supported the fellowship’s continued growth from an initial meeting of 2 in 1935, to a group of 100 by 1939, to a world-wide fellowship in 180 countries with an estimated membership of nearly two million — 73% in the United States and Canada — by 2021. And many other 12th Step fellowships (35+) have evolved based upon these guidelines and principles.    

This is how this first fellowship's remarkable growth has been achievable with no government funding, and other a small amount of financial  assistance from non-members in the first few years, has operated since, solely on voluntarily contributions from members, and the sale of its literature primarily purchased by members.               

The "Reverse Triangle" — a "bottom up" structure — represents a “reverse hierarchy” with the groups representatives at the National Conference determining what the national non-profit incorporated charity does on their behalf.

AA Freedom of Choice

In particular, a split from the early religious roots brought an emphasis from the Jesus centred reliance to a more generalised “greater power” of (male) God. And because one of the early members was an atheist, the term “Almighty God” was changed to “God as you understand him”. A radical change for its time. 

This meant members were free to choose a personal concept of their "greater power", and those 5 words considered by one of AA’s c-founders as the most important of all written for the fellowship.

These are the reasons why 12th fellowships describe themselves as "spiritual' programs.

"Spiritual" (ethical) in terms of living a way of life with attitudes and values that respect and care for others as well as oneself.

AA Concept of Alcoholism as a mental, physical, spiritual health issue - not a moral problem

In this context, those with addiction problems are viewed as 'wounded spirits' in need of care, connection with community, deep listening and support to be healed - not "immoral" or "bad" people as traditionally judged - although people with addictions can and often do behave unethically.

It is interesting to note that, in recent years,  trauma and trans-generational trauma are recognised as major factors behind the development of addiction problems.

It is the underlying spiritual basis of these 12-step program and structures that may resonate with Indigenous peoples, if this can be explained from this angle.

In summary

Here is a list of the very different way this fellowship, as do many other such 12th Step fellowships,, operate from most non-profit and for-profit associations and companies. Some are repeated from above, but included for emphasis. The AA fellowship has:

  • a simple membership requirement in that the individual can choose to belong if they believe they meet that requirement, and no-one can refuse membership.(4)

  • no membership fees (joining or annual) or required papers to sign

  • “pass it forward” with voluntary service and donations, not “user-pays”

  • no membership lists or records

  • no rules to be followed, whilst there are "suggestions" on how to act. Whilst a group can decide to ask an individual to leave if their behaviour is disruptive to that group, that is usually done on a temporary basis. But no-one or group can revoke an individual's membership from the fellowship or their involvement in other groups. (5)

  • confidentiality in groups respect individual's privacy 

  • "anonymity at the level of public media" principles protects the fellowship from broader social influences. Ie the singleness of purpose. Primarily Anonymity keeps the principle of equality– there are no stars in AA – AA wants the focus on the message of hope and recovery from a fatal condition, not on the person delivering that message. This is not about shame though that element may have been present in the early days. 

  • opinions on issues other than the primary purpose of the fellowship discouraged because the early members saw how other movements floundered and went under when they tried to be all things to all people. (6)

  • members free to choose their home group where they may vote, but they can attend any open meeting they choose (which means non-member observers can attend) and any members' only meetings. (7)

  • a "suggested" 12-step recovery program to address the member's addiction /compulsive behaviours and/or problems, which the member may choose, or not, to use (8)

  • no bosses (i.e. the structure is non-hierarchical) only “servants” and  service positions are time limited and rotated with certain roles only able to be taken once. (known as a principle of "rotation of office").  (9)

    This way the maximum number of members can participate in the running of the fellowship, and people do not become entrenched in the positions that they hold- minimises power/ ego issues (10)

  • respect for minority opinion as important for better information, consideration and “informed” decision making. (11)

  • those who serve the groups in any capacity (e.g. secretary, treasurer chairperson) are accountable to the group i.e. they do not govern or tell other members what to do. (12)

  • a set of 12 'Traditions" as a guide to how the groups function. (13)

  • the groups as the ultimate authority for the fellowship, by sending a group service representative to quarterly service meetings called area assemblies, as well as district meetings if the groups form districts within their area. (14)

  • group service representatives elect an Area Committee to provide services (such as public information and professional awareness) to their area and also elect an Area Delegate and Alternate Area Delegate to represent their Area at an annual  National Conference. (15)

  • Area Delegates responsible to work together at the Conference to prioritise projects for the common good of the whole fellowship. 

    NB Whilst delegates may carry an understanding of their group's position on a particular topic, if the information presented by other delegates at the National Conference provides a broader perspective such that the area delegate considers that they need to vote, not in accordance with their group's position, they are free to do so. In this way, they do not act like politicians who are bound to vote along party lines. (16)

  • each member and/or group encouraged to submit topics for consideration and decision making at the National Conference, which is considered the "group conscience" of the whole fellowship.(17)

  • a set of 12 Concepts of Service  to guide the National Conference and any member acting in a service role within the fellowship. (18)

  • a national charitable non-profit incorporation association to provide the legal structure to support the fellowship (with a board and staff, who are ethically responsible to implement the decisions made by the National Conference, and are accountable via the Conference to the fellowship as a whole., (19)

Simply put - how has this fellowship survived and grown so incredibly?

Perhaps for that very reason. It is a fellowship - a community of people who care about each other and want the best for each other and who to reach out to “fellow” sufferers. AA offers help freely - no strings attached.

That is something that cannot be bought. It is something to be a part of and to experience.

Ro Goold

Rona Goold
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Another way AA shapes its future