Tradition Four (Short): Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or C.A. as a whole.
Tradition Four (Long): With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the Trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.
Suggested Readings:
C.A. World Service Manual 2022 Edition p. 17
DEFINITION OF A COCAINE ANONYMOUS “GROUP”
Two or more C.A. members meeting regularly to share their experience, strength and hope with each other, may call themselves a Cocaine Anonymous Group when:
1. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances.
2. It is fully self-supporting.
3. Its primary purpose is to help addicts recover through the Twelve Steps of C.A.
4. It has no outside affiliations.
5. It has no opinion on outside issues.
6. Its public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.
CA World Website (https://ca.org/service/)
“Cocaine Anonymous is not organized in the formal or political sense. There are no governing officers, no rules or regulations, no dues or fees. While we are guided by the Twelve Traditions of Cocaine Anonymous, each group is generally free to conduct its business as it sees fit, as stated in Tradition 4.”
Clarifying Questions and Answers:
Q: Who is each group responsible to so far as its business and practices are concerned? A: each C.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.
Q: If other groups might be affected, what should be done? A: when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted.
Q: No group nor any C.A. service entity should ever do what? A: Take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole.
Q: Without first doing what? A: Conferring with the Trustees of the World Service Board
Q: What is paramount? A: Our common welfare.
Discussion Questions:
- When making autonomous decisions, does my group consider other CA groups and CA as a whole?
- Do I make an effort to familiarize myself with other CA groups and open the lines of communication?
- Do I understand that there are many ways to look at an issue? Do I understand that there are many ways of doing things?
- Do I realize that to some non-members who know I am in the fellowship, my actions and behavior may represent Cocaine Anonymous as a whole?