The trustees’ Literature Committee needs your feedback.

And the big question is whether we should encourage or discourage the organization to change the literature. It’s a loaded topic and there’s lots of opinions on both sides. This is your chance to be heard.

The letter below is from the Committee. At the end, you’ll see a button linked to the questionnaire. Input your responses and click save. That is saved anonymously in a spreadsheet. We’ll send that spreadsheet with your responses to our Area Literature Committee to inform our Delegate of your opinions.

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Dear Trusted Servants,

A.A. Co-Founder, Bill W, in his 1963 address to the General Service Conference, stated that he did not consider himself the author of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Big Book (Our Great Responsibility, page 92). He also alluded to the fact that in the various A.A. literature published prior to his passing, he borrowed heavily from other sources and that other A.A. members made significant contributions. 

On the other hand, addressing the historical context of some of the writings of our founders, many members in our fellowship have expressed strong sentiment against any changes to the first 164 pages of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Big Book, as well as the preface, the forwards, the Doctors Opinion, Dr. Bob’s Nightmare, and the Appendices, In fact, as early as 1995 and most recently in 2022, advisory actions designed to protect the above-referenced contents, have been passed by the General Service Conference.

In response to a Committee Consideration from the 73rd General Service Conference, suggesting that the trustees’ Literature Committee seek input from the Fellowship (including, but not limited to Area delegate feedback) regarding any possible future changes to the literature, written by A.A. founders, the trustees’ Literature committee agreed it would be beneficial to gather shared experience from the Fellowship regarding this topic.

We would like to hear from you—the top of the triangle! We hope that the suggested questions will help to spark thoughtful, sharing, and discussion. Please feel free to add questions that we may not have thought of that you feel may best inform the discussion. Most of all, we are grateful for and thank you for your participation. 

And fellowship.

The trustees’ Literature Committee (2023 to 2024)