Should the Motion brought by District 12 and as amended by the 2021 Conference body pass, it would only replace the word “God” with the words “Higher Power” within the numbered versions of what is sometimes referred to as the “short form” of the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, wherever those two documents appear, as well as anywhere where these numbered versions of what is sometimes referred to as the “short form” of the Twelve Steps or Twelve Traditions are quoted in whole or in part within other MA literature, including where each of the Steps and Traditions are quoted at the beginning of each chapter in Life with Hope.
If it passes, the Motion would NOT change the word “God” to the words “Higher Power” everywhere that the word “God” appears throughout MA literature.
If the motion passes, would “God” change to “Higher Power” in every place the word “God” is mentioned within the MA literature?
No, there are very specific changes outlined in the Motion. Should the Motion pass, it would only change the words “God” to “Higher Power” within the numbered versions of the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions and anywhere where the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are directly quoted within other MA literature, including where each of the Twelve Steps is quoted at the beginning of each chapter in Life with Hope, as well as wherever the Steps and Traditions are quoted within the Life with Hope 12 Step Workbook, and MA pamphlets.
How do we know the proposed change only applies to the word “God” within the numbered versions of the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, and wherever they are quoted, not everywhere the word “God” appears within MA literature?
When any changes to MA literature are proposed at the MA World Services annual business Conference, every detail is outlined, including the page numbers where each and every change is to be made within MA’s literature, including Life with Hope, the Life with Hope 12 Step Workbook, the Service Manual, MA pamphlet(s), and/or the MA World Services’ website. These proposed changes are no different. If the Motion intended to make changes throughout all of the MA literature, the motion makers would have needed to list every single instance where they proposed to make changes.
The 2021 Conference Motion did not specify each instance where “God,” appears. The Motion language proposes changes only be made to the numbered versions or what is sometimes referred to as the “short form” of the Twelve Steps, and the Twelve Traditions and subsequently where those two documents appear.
Marijuana-Anonymous.org/Vote outlines the exact proposed changes and lists where the numbered versions of the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions appear. There is also additional contextual material there that was submitted by the original Motion makers explaining District 12’s rationale behind submitting this Motion to the Conference for a fellowship-wide vote.
Would there be any financial loss to the fellowship if the motion passes?
No, there is no cost associated with altering the digital versions of all documents.
The potential changes would be made to future versions of printed Life with Hope, the Life with Hope 12 Step Workbook, and MA pamphlets.