Our primary spiritual aim — Tradition Six

Six–Problems of money, property, and authority may easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim. We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual. An A.A. group, as such, should never go into business. Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much property or administration, ought to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups. Hence such facilities ought not to use the A.A. name. Their management should be the sole responsibility of those people who financially support them. For clubs, A.A. managers are usually preferred. But hospitals, as well as other places of recuperation, ought to be well outside A.A.-and medically supervised. While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one.

As a fellowship our primary purpose remains carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers (as stated in Tradition Five) and this is absolutely still needed. Why? Because people are still dying of alcoholism, right across the world. Perhaps we don’t see people suffering the fatal consequences of alcoholism so much in our meetings or on our streets due to widespread access to hospital care throughout Europe, but each and everyday people are still dying from alcoholism.

“The more AA sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere.” (AA Comes of AA, p.109)

As for money, property and prestige, these are not particularly relevant and if anything, a distraction from the core activity of AA, ‘one alcoholic talking with another’. It’s been demonstrated for generations now that necessary financial costs that an AA group does have (for example rent for a meeting room) are effectively met by the voluntary contributions of its own members.  

Although an AA group should not affiliate or lend the AA name to outside organizations, AA groups can and do work in a spirit of co-operation with outside organizations, for example taking meetings into hospitals, treatment centers and prisons or running AA public information events for health professionals or policy makers.

By co-operating and simultaneously remaining unaffiliated with any other organization, disagreement, argument, division and problems about money, property and prestige are avoided and our focus in AA can remain on the primary purpose of AA.

As an AA member the application of tradition six in daily life means a continued focus on my primary purpose. Our basic text suggests that I keep close to God and perform his work well (AA Big Book p.63) which includes carrying the message of AA. This can mean being available to newcomers and sponsoring other alcoholics in AA, attending, participating and contributing to AA meetings, actively participating in the AA service structure at group level and beyond. Carrying the message includes outside the AA fellowship through service activity (as part of an established AA service structure) such as public information and co-operating with outside organizations, for example health care facilities, treatment centers and prisons.

Alongside carrying the message of AA my primary purpose includes practicing the principles of the program in all aspects of life, “A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs” (AA Big Book p.19). So, my primary purpose also includes applying the principles of our program as a way of life; at home, at work and in the community in which I live…

“A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works.” (AA Big Book p.28).

– James S.