To answer this question we look for guidance from the Fourth Tradition. (Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72)
“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or MA as a whole.”
Tradition Four is a specific application of the general principles outlined in Traditions One and Two. Tradition Four states that every group has the right of self- government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases, except where MA as a whole is affected. This means that MA has the courage and faith to allow each group to make its own decisions. In essence, each group is its own individual entity, relying on the group conscience as guided by a loving God to direct its actions.
Groups have a right to make their own mistakes. There are only two boundaries that any group must not cross: 1) A group must not do anything that would affect other groups or MA as a whole; and 2) A group cannot affiliate itself with anything or anybody else. In all other respects the groups have complete autonomy.
The group may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes. No district service committee should challenge this privilege even though a group may act in complete opposition to the district’s desires. In other words, every group has the right to set its own course.
Healthy trial and error, guided by spiritual principles, often results in a newer and better way to do things. In many cases, allowing groups liberty and freedom helps keep MA from being stuck in the rut of practices and customs that have become obsolete.
A group should consult with other groups, the district service committee, or World Services if there is any question that their actions may affect another group or MA as a whole. Each group should take special care that its actions fall within the bounds of our traditions, and that they do not dictate or force anything upon other groups. The purpose of autonomy is to give each group the freedom to establish an atmosphere of recovery that will best serve its members, and to fulfill the primary purpose stated in Tradition Five.
“A group should consult with other groups, the district service committee, or World Services if there is any question that their actions may affect another group or MA as a whole.” – Fourth Tradition
If your group/meeting would like suggestions for how to gather a group conscience you may choose to seek support from members with long-time sobriety, a district, or MA World Services.
This is a general outline for calling a business meeting to gather the group conscience:
Selecting a Chairperson:
Any member of the group/meeting can request to hold a business meeting. The group/meeting may want to determine a designated member to facilitate this vote, that could be the Group Service Representative, Chairperson, Secretary, or any member of the group/meeting.
For the purpose of this vote, the group/meeting may have selected a trusted servant to facilitate the voting process; this person is responsible for managing the conversation and/or debate in a fair, organized, orderly manner. They will also be responsible for submitting the vote of the meeting/group’s conscience to MA World Services electronically using the meeting’s unique ID voting. “Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” Please ensure that the person responsible for facilitating the voting process will accurately record the group/meetings’ vote with MA World Services.
Schedule and provide notice of the business meeting to discuss and vote on the motion:
Schedule the business meeting in advance, giving notice at least 2 weeks prior. The business meeting should take place when the majority of the group/meeting’s members can attend to discuss the proposed changes, and potentially vote if a group conscience is reached during the meeting. The business meeting may be held before, after, or at a separate time from the regular meeting.
Whomever has been designated by the group/meeting to facilitate this vote will give notice of the business meeting to vote on this motion. When providing notice of the business meeting, inform the members of the business meeting’s subject including all of the relevant materials provided. This will allow members sufficient time to review the motion language and accompanying materials prior to attending the business meeting.
The link Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote and this page of frequently asked questions Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote/FAQ should be distributed as soon as possible. The length of the business meeting may be reduced by allowing everyone an opportunity to review and consider the proposed changes beforehand.
Holding the business meeting
Ideally the meeting begins with someone reading the motion language and proposed changes out loud. For meetings held over the phone or chat, please provide the link Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote. For in-person meetings consider having printed copies of the voting material available for members to read along.
Discussion
The member facilitating the business meeting will be responsible for calling on any members who wish to share their thoughts on the motion. During discussion, it is important that all voices are heard, and that respect is maintained, regardless of the member’s outlook, and that no one talks out of turn.
Should discussion become overly passionate, it is important to remember why the group/meeting is having the discussion that has some members so passionate in the first place – to determine how best to fufill MA’s primary purpose and carry the message to the addict who is still suffering! This is also where it’s important to try and hear any minority views, not just the loudest voices, and to have the willingness and open mind to listen to all viewpoints.
During the annual MA World Services business Conference, if tensions are rising any member can raise both hands to stop the meeting and say the “Serenity Prayer.” When anyone sees hands raised, they raise theirs, until everyone in the room has raised their hands. At this point, discussion pauses and whomever initiated raising hands leads the group in the “Serenity Prayer,” usually the “We” version. Often, this helps calm the tension and pause to remember why we are all so passionate about the discussion.
“Pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action.” – AA Big Book pg 87
We can all benefit from this quote – particularly during potentially heated discussions. If members are feeling agitated or doubtful as a group during these discussions, take a pause to seek guidance for the next indicated right thought or action.
There is no need to rush in reaching a group conscience, groups/meetings have until May 9, 2023 to return their votes. If a group conscience cannot be reached in one business meeting, it can be tabled, to be continued during another business meeting when everyone is feeling rested and refreshed physically and spiritually to continue the discussion in a productive manner.
Ending Discussion
If everyone in a meeting seems to be in agreement, or if the group/meeting is smaller, meeting discussion may conclude quickly, needing only one business meeting. Moving to a vote could be an easy transition.
If discussion has become over-extended, occurring over multiple business meetings, the group conscience seems divided, there may be too many opposing opinions, or discussion is going in circles, it may be the time to vote on whether or not to end discussion. If the vote to end discussion does not pass, then discussion resumes as it was before until the group conscience decides to vote.
It is possible that those with a minority opinion will never sway their thoughts, or come to an understanding with the rest of the group’s opinions. We always hope that everyone can agree within the group conscience but that may not be possible. Please see the following question about what percentage of a meeting’s group conscience votes that must be in favor of the proposed change to pass the motion.
Voting on the Motion
Voting YES, means that you agree with the proposed changes.
Voting NO, means you do not agree with the proposed changes.
When the meeting has decided it is time to vote on the proposed changes, voting can also occur in a variety of ways:
- For discrete voting, you may consider a secret paper ballot for in person meetings. Or, for discrete voting in virtual meetings, you can consider sending a direct message in the chat to the trusted servant
- Or perhaps vote by raising hands (either using virtual or “physical hands”) or, audibly stating yes or no.
- Meetings are autonomous and so it’s entirely up to the meeting how voting will occur, and what percentage of the meeting/group must be in favor of a proposed change/motion in order for it to pass/take effect.
All of the above are simply suggestions for holding a business meeting. Autonomous groups/meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes.