At the 2021 MA World Services annual business Conference, District 12 presented an Agenda Item that there be a fellowship-wide vote on whether or not to change the language within the Twelve Steps to replace the word “God” with the words “Higher Power.” A formal amendment was passed at that time to include the Twelve Traditions as well. Since the 2021 Conference, MA World Services has been creating voting functions and updating the directory of groups/meetings. Our goal is to implement this fellowship-wide vote in a manner which represents the group conscience of all MA groups/meetings.
Learn more about why District 12 chose to bring forth the motion for a fellowship-wide vote in the motion contextual statement: Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote
Why does this motion require a fellowship-wide vote rather than a vote of the Conference body made up of the delegates like most motions?
The Marijuana Anonymous Service Manual is the guidebook that helps MA function and serve our primary purpose. The Service Manual explains the, “Procedure for Approval of Changes in the Language of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties.” This can be found in Service Manual version 7.1 on page 62:
“Should a conference motion pass which seeks to change the text of the Steps, Traditions, and/or General Warranties, the written consent of three-quarters of all groups, as required by the Conference Charter, shall be obtained as follows: The proposed change shall be sent to all meetings registered with World Services and, after no less than 6 months, those ballots returned shall be counted. A yes vote of three-quarters of the returned ballots shall be sufficient to meet the requirement of the Conference Charter to implement the proposed change(s).”
In other words, significant changes to the core of the MA program and literature, such as proposed changes to the text of the Steps and Traditions, it was decided that a fellowship-wide group conscience must be taken.
What happens if the service term has ended for the group/meeting’s secretary/chair/GSR and they were the designated vote facilitator for the group/meeting?
MA World Services is aware there may be changes in service members for groups/meetings prior to submitting a vote. If service positions or role merely changed, but the designated vote facilitator continues to attend the meeting, that person could still facilitate the vote. If that person is no longer able to attend through the end of the voting period (May 23, 2023) ideally they will help to delegate the duties and share the voting information including the meeting’s unique ballot ID with another service member of the meeting.
There is no need to notify MA World Services of change in service roles. This includes if the next service member has the electronic ballot information and is able to facilitate the voting process for the group/meeting.