Page 4 - The Twelve Concepts for World Service

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Concept II

When, in 1955, the A.A. groups confirmed the permanent charter for their
General Service Conference, they thereby delegated to the Conference com-
plete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby
made the Conference — excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions or
in Article 12 of the Conference Charter — the actual voice and the effective
conscience for our whole Society.

oncept I establishes the “final responsibility and ultimate authority” of the
C A.A. groups; but, in actual practice, how are they to manage A.A.’s service
affairs? By delegation, Concept II declares.
Bill and Dr. Bob, entrusted by the early groups to get the program going
and to spread the message, found nonalcoholic friends to help them. They
formed a trusteeship and delegated to it the responsibility for finances, the
Big Book and other literature, public information, the service office and the
A.A. Grapevine. However, as the trustees constantly looked to the co-founders
for advice and guidance and the groups also continued to hold them account-
able, it was evident that the leadership should be transferred to the A.A.