Page 10 - The Twelve Concepts for World Service
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Concept V
Throughout our world services structure, a traditional "Right of Appeal" ought
to prevail, thus assuring us that minority opinion will be heard and that
petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered
ewcomers to A.A.’s General Service Conference are
N often surprised at the pains taken by the
presiding officer to make sure the minority has a second
opportunity to present its views. Even after extensive
debate on an issue, followed by a vote in which a
“substantial unanimity” is reached, those opposed are
polled individually to see if they wish to speak further to
their minority view. In fact, numerous instances can be
cited in which this minority view is so compelling the
Conference has then reversed itself.
This is A.A.’s “Right of Appeal” in action, and Bill
says the same principle should apply to meetings of our
area committees, trustee committees and boards. On
an issue of grave importance, the minority has the
actual duty of presenting its views.
This “Right of Appeal” recognizes that minorities
frequently can be right; that even when they are in
error they still perform a most valuable service when
they compel a thorough-going debate on important
issues. The well-heard minority, therefore, is our chief
protection against an uninformed, misinformed,
hasty or angry majority.
“Trusted servants,” according to Bill, “do for the
groups what the groups cannot or should not do for
themselves.” And in exercising their “Right of Decision”
(see Concept III), trusted servants are almost always
“a small but truly qualified minority” — whether in the
form of area committees, staffs, boards or even the
General Service Conference itself. It is incumbent upon
them, therefore, in their own meetings, to pay special
deference to the minority voice.