Alyssa
Alyssa
Big Book Snippets 12&12 Tradition 8 Part 1
Big Book Snippets 12&12 Tradition 8 Part 1
Big Book Snippets 12&12 Tradition 8 Part 1
Monday 22nd September 2025
Explore AA's Tradition 8 with Alyssa, discussing the balance between service and professionalism in Alcoholics Anonymous.
6 minutes
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Get the buttons here!Balancing Service and Professionalism in AA: A Deep Dive into Tradition 8
Episode Overview
- AA maintains a non-professional stance to preserve its mission.
- Mixing money with spirituality is seen as ineffective in recovery.
- Service roles are essential for supporting AA's operations.
- Debates over professionalism have been a long-standing issue.
- Paid workers facilitate, but do not replace, volunteer efforts.
"Almost no recovery from alcoholism has ever been brought about by the world's best professionals."
Curious about how AA tackles the balance between service and professionalism? Alyssa takes you on a journey through Tradition 8 of the AA Big Book, highlighting the crucial stance that Alcoholics Anonymous should remain non-professional. This episode unpacks why AA believes that mixing money with spirituality doesn't work, even when the world's top professionals are involved.
Alyssa discusses how AA members have historically struggled with the idea of 'professional' roles within the fellowship, sparking heated debates over what constitutes professional versus service work. You'll hear how AA members have been criticised for taking on roles like janitors or secretaries, simply because they received a paycheck. Alyssa emphasises that these roles are not about doing 12-step work but about making it possible.
She shares anecdotes about how these jobs, often thankless and misunderstood, are vital to keeping the doors open for those seeking help. The episode also explores the tension between fear and experience in the AA community, particularly around hiring practices. Alyssa argues that having AA members in service roles is essential for effective operation, despite past fears of professionalism creeping in.
It's a fascinating look at how AA has navigated these challenges over the years, making it clear that while volunteers are invaluable, some tasks require dedicated, paid workers to maintain the organisation's mission. So, how does AA manage to keep its mission pure while employing people? Tune in to find out why Tradition 8 remains a cornerstone of AA's philosophy and how it continues to guide their operations today. Could this balance be the key to AA's long-standing success?