What is the history behind AA’s Responsibility Statement?

It was written for the 1965 A.A. International Convention in Toronto . I have enclosed an article titled, ‘How I am Responsible became a part of A.A.’, from the GSO newsletter, Box 4-5-9. The article identifies former AA trustee, Al S. as the author of the Responsibility Statement. In the souvenir book for the 1965 Convention, Dr. Jack Norris writes: “..We must remember that AA will continue strong only so long as each of us freely and happily gives it away to another person, only as each of us takes our fair share of responsibility for sponsorship of those who still suffer, for the growth and integrity of our Group, for our Intergroup activities, and for AA as a whole. It is in taking responsibility that real freedom and the enduring satisfactions of life are found. AA has given us the power to choose – to drink or not to drink – and in doing so has given us the freedom to be responsible for ourselves. As we become responsible for ourselves, we are free to be responsible for our share in AA, and unless we happily accept this responsibility we lose AA. Strange, isn’t it?”

In a Grapevine article in October 1965, the Responsibility Statement is discussed, and Bill W. expresses his views: Two major thoughts stood out in the remarks of the many speakers, alcoholic and nonalcoholic, at AA’s July Toronto Convention. The first was admiration and gratitude for AA’s startling success in sobering up hundreds of thousands of lost-cause drunks. The other was concern that the success which has come to AA over the thirty years since its start in Akron, Ohio in 1935 would not lead us to any complacency about the size of the job still to be done. The theme of the Convention was: Responsibility. “I am responsible. . .when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.” AA’s co-founder, Bill, in his talk to over 10,000 attending the major sessions of the Convention, stressed the need for cooperation with all who work on the problem of alcoholism, the more than 100 agencies in the United States and Canada alone now engaged in research, alcohol education and rehabilitation. “Too often, we have deprecated and even derided these projects of our friends just because we do not always see eye to eye with them,” Bill said. “We should very seriously ask ourselves how many alcoholics have gone on drinking simply because we have failed to cooperate in good spirit with these many agencies. No alcoholic should go mad or die merely because he did not come straight to AA in the beginning.” “The first concern of AA members should be with problem drinkers the movement is still unable to reach,” Bill said. He estimated that there are 20 million alcoholics in the world today, five million in the U.S. alone. “Some cannot be reached because they are not hurt enough, others because they are hurt too much,” he declared. “Many sufferers have mental and emotional complications that seem to foreclose their chances. Yet it would be conservative to estimate that at any particular time there are four million alcoholics in the world who are able, ready and willing to get well if only they knew how. When we remember that in the 30 years of AA’s existence we have reached less than ten per cent of those who might have been willing to approach us, we begin to get an idea of the immensity of our task and of the responsibilities with which we will always be confronted.”

There have been two Advisory Actions from the General Service Conference regarding the Declaration of Responsibility since it was introduced. In 1971, the Conference recommended that: The Literature Committee, following the general feeling of the Conference, reaffirm both the spirit and the wording of the “I am Responsible” Declaration from the International Convention held in Toronto in 1965. And in 1977, the Conference recommended that: The Responsibility Declaration not be changed, as it was made at the 1965 International Convention in Toronto.

G.S.O. Archives

49 thoughts on “ What is the history behind AA’s Responsibility Statement? ”

The other reason I ignore the Responsibility Statement is that it does not apply to me – I have a prior commitment. Its on the top of p77 in the book: “Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” I imagine that this sentence could prove difficult for an atheist or agnostic or a member of a spiritual tradition that does not include a Higher Power. If so, then the Responsibility Statement might be preferable to those of that disposition.

Isn’t it time we ended the non-alcoholic portion of trustees? We don’t even let non-alcoholics share in AA meetings! Why do they vote in New York? Sure would like to see an answer to that question. Then, consider this: “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,…” ANYONE? ANYONE, ANYWHERE? Really? This does not even specify alcoholics! What, we are a general service organization now? What happened to “…better to do one thing supremely well than many badly.” 12&12, p150.1, Tradition Five. “One primary purpose” Thanks, but no thanks, I will stay with the big book and disregard the rest of progress and hokey little woke signs as they may crop up from time to time.

Everything relates to the alcoholic and alcoholism , thus we are inclined to stay in our own lane. “I am responsible”, as in being a recovered alcoholic, “when anyone”, as in being of any race, religion, or sexual preference, “anywhere”, as in any place on this big blue marble called earth, “reaches out for help”, as in wishing to recover from the destructive illness of alcoholism, “I want the hand of AA always to be there”, as in being ready and willing to carry our message , armed with our common solution as provided in the Big Book, “and for that I am responsible”, as in having being recovered, to have a working knowledge of the history, steps, and the traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, and to share , humbly , with those still struggling with this addiction. A simple statement for a simple program with a common solution for a common problem.

Iv only just this hour found the responsibility pledge, and I have to say,
It’s brilliant in its simplicity
A few words, but powerful words, Brilliant, simple, to the point, but more than anything else, True of every member I have come across in my time in AA

What the Responsibility Statement means to me is that I am responsible to help another alcoholic in need either with 1 day or even 20 yrs. To a newcomer to make them feel welcomed & that there not alone we are all here for one purpose & that is how to stay away from a drink for one day. I’ve read by carrying the msg is another way in which I am responsible. I also want to understand this to a tee that does it also mean by being active doing service for AA. Also, does it mean if someone in the halls speaks in a meeting of wanting to drink and/or commit suicide, etc does that also go under the Responsibility Declaration statement: I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that I am responsible. (To put my hand out to another sick and suffering no matter what)

Greetings I run a Primary Purpose Big Book Study meeting at the Scout Hall in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, on the corner of Mill Drive & Bamford lane on Wednesdays at 12pm. Just touching base with others of like mind. It is so hard battling the bs, in ID meetings, walking into one is like going to war, because of the oposition to the message of the Big Book,& the first one hundred. I’m off to a ID meeting now wish ne luck!!

Hi, I run a Big Book study group at the Scout Hall at 12pm Wenesdays at the corner of Mill Dve, & Bamford Lane, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Just touching base with somebody with a like mind.

I am responsible to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Im responsible to read the AA literature and try to carty the AA message.

“There are those who predict that A.A. may well become a new spearhead for a spiritual awakening throughout the world. When our friends say these things, they are both generous & sincere. But we of A.A. must reflect that such a tribute & such a prophecy could well prove to be a heady drink for most of us– that is, if we really came to believe this to be the real purpose of A.A. & if we commenced to behave accordingly. “Our Society, therefore, will prudently cleave to its single purpose: the carrying of the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are designed to be a channel of saving grace for everybody.” ~A.A. co-founder Bill W. 1955~

IF YOU DONT HAVE A BUCK? HELP OUT AROUND THE CLUB. YOU FORGET THAT PART. IS AA TO BE ABOUT MONEY NOW?

It was explained to me that the Responsibility Declaration is, as stated in previous post, a Service Pledge. “When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help” is followed by “I want the hand of AA (not my hand) always to be there, and for that I am responsible.” To me this means that I am responsible to make sure that I am trying to practice the 36 spiritual principles of AA’s 3 Legacies so that “AA” will be there for the next alcoholic that may walk into these rooms. If I’m doing that then I should be reaching out to the next suffering alcoholic as part of that responsibility. I carry a meeting into our local Detox which has patients that are there for things other than alcohol. I try and carry this message (AA) but if I went in there and started sharing about all the other drugs that I’ve done or medications that they should or shouldn’t be taking then I am not doing what I can to make sure the “hand of AA always to be there”. I hope this made sense. I normally don’t post but found this site while looking for new topics to discuss.

The Responsibility Declaration is said regularly in the meetings in my area. I suppose I took it as supporting AA as a whole, keeping GSO healthy, all the way to helping the fellow alcoholic and anyone I come in contact with. I agree to treat everyone I meet as though they are a sick alcoholic; same love, same tolerance. On a good day, I succeed. I see all aspects of our inverted triangle as equally important. I can be a part of each area. Bill W. seemed to be talking about our friends as well. I’ll follow that lead.

A.A is simple. It’s one alcoholic helping another alcoholic. Nothing more, please keep with the basics.

I’m very sorry that this powerful AA Creed just isn’t followed by AA members as a whole today and since 1990. Example I actually went to AA meetings in my darkest hour desperate for help and raised my hand as a new comer. After the Lord’s prayer I would wait for someone to offer me a solution. The most I got was hello, keep coming back or here’s my phone number call me, that was a lucky day if that even happened. Most of my many AA attempts usually resulted in no one even talking to me at all. Not one person offered a solution which guaranteed a way out if I cared to have it. Proof of my theory. Just Google AA worldwide membership and watch how we have no growth in 27 years in a row. New York central office keeps these numbers. I offer every new comer a solution to there problem, I offer sponsor ship on first greet and meet. I read the book word by word page by page so that the new member will have 100%chance of success if he follows the path carved out by Bill W and Dr. Bob. If he is able to find a power greater than himself.. Do you do that? Or do you not? No middle road it’s either yes you do or no you don’t. From my experience while I was drinking that never happened to me in my almost 20 attempts at AA. That still doesn’t happen after being sober 22 years later. Very, very few men work the original program out of the book.
Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Bill W and Dr Bob would be so disappointed if they saw what AA has become

Bud, I would never abdicate my responsibility to fellow humans who are not alcoholics, And I look for opportunities to be helpful to others no matter where I am. However, that human obligation is not covered by AA’s responsibility statement. The statement specifies “the hand of AA” and addresses our obligation to provide the kind of assistance that one problem drinker can provide to another in a way that no one else can. I appreciate and agree with the idea that as human beings, we need to be ready to provide whatever assistance we are able to anyone in need. But that is unrelated to AAs responsibility statement.

I find the simplicity of “anyone, anywhere” deeply meaningful. As an alcoholic in recovery, working the 12 steps puts me on a spiritual plane that allows me to be used for a higher purpose to be of service to anyone reaching out for help, regardless of the source of their problem.

I do not see where this limits us even to those only inside AA. It specifically states anyone anywhere I want the hand of AA to always be there and for that I am responsible. Therefore, i understand that as if I see anyone anywhere asking for help and i may be of service i need to do just that WITHOUT wearing AA on my chest as some sort of super hero.
I think regardless of age, infirmities, race, whatever excuse one may try to mention it is just that an excuse. We can all help in some way form or fashion

Of course I do what I can to help anyone get to a meeting, talk to someone on the fence, etc…. but equally important, I participate locally in my home group with service and encourage others to do the same. A healthy group is part of a healthy AA as a whole and insures that will always be there when someone does reach out for help. It’s not solely my responsibility, It’s up to all of us to do as much as we can as individuals.

I’ve been acting as a responsible AA for 18 years. My question is, “Who’s responsible for helping this alcoholic get rid of the bed bugs that I got helping the alcoholic I helped back in April?” Don’t bother answering. It’s a rhetorical question, so you’re off the hook. It’s also a trick question since you can never really get rid of bed bugs. But now that I’ve found out that Al S. wrote the Responsibility Pledge, I know he’s the one who’s responsible.

The Responsibility Declaration is about extending the hand of AA to ANY ALCOHOLIC who reaches out for help. It has NOTHING to do with helping Non Alcoholics. The AA History is very clear on this subject. Being a Past Delegate to the General Service Conference and having been Sponsored by 2 past Trustees, and being a Sponsor to one of the best known AA Historians alive today (Arthur S), I took the time to learn AA History so I would not make the mistake of spreading misinformation in AA. I suggest to those who haven’t learned what the Responsibility Declaration is actually about, to get a STRONG, 3 LEGACY AA SPONSOR so you won’t spread MISINFORMATION.

Then thats what should have been adopted. What was clear in 1965 not so clear in 2019. Aaers who actually believe the service pledge applies to alcoholics are being assailed on every front. Our annual conference seems to have done little to unmuddy the water. Nonalcoholics do not frequent area assemblies. Perhaps our service structure could be a little more mindful how thier actions affect groups. The service pledge is used as a club to pommel aaers who believe in the singleness of purpose. Check out my statement for inaccuracies before trying to tar and feather me

I concur. No need for the tar bucket & bag of feathers, which made this discussion suddenly seem like a Yelp comments section. or taking certain bible stories verbatim as accurate explanations of history and science. As in, abysmally negative. I was born in 1963, have been in AA for two decades, have gone to a variety of mtgs throughout the LA area, and know that it’s a small percent of those who were born after the 1965 convention and are current AA members that would say they were familiar with the history of the responsibility statement, its original construct, or Bill W.’s thoughts on it. And, getting a STRONG, 3 LEGACY AA SPONSOR… I can’t even. “Take what’s useful & leave the rest.” If an AA member compelled to assist ANYONE (whether fellow alcoholic or addict, friend, family member, or regular human you’ve never met before) ANYWHERE means that a member performs a random act of kindness that provides relief from the obsession of self and time spent without being drunk… it’s a lovely win-win situation, IMHO. Namaste.

this may pertain to a personal program but not assumed to be applied in the rooms of AA. The message of the responsibility is for the hand of AA always to be there. This meaning the message of AA. This certainly does not mean the AA should take on any problems anywhere. Remember the traditions and Bill’s statement of humility. “Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody”. -Bill W. Bill N thank you for your comments. I feel the the initial article statement “AA has given us the power to choose – to drink or not to drink – and in doing so has given us the freedom to be responsible for ourselves.” is a total misstatement. AA did not give me a power to choose again, I am still powerless over alcohol, without choice about that. Having a daily reprieve does not mean I’m choosing not drink. I’ve experience the tenth step and alcohol has become a non issue, I don’t swear off nor fight it. As far as having responsibility for myself, I lack the power to do that as well; self reliance still fails me, but reliance upon God works. What do you think Bill N?

The Responsibility statement is a Service piece. One of my favorites❤ But yes, unfortunately it is grossly taken out of context, misunderstood and manipulated We adopted it at the 1966 General Service Conference. When the alcoholics finally took responsibility for our third Legacy(the service structure) It was on that day that we switched from having 14 non-alcoholics on the board, and only 7 alcoholic trustees, to instead NOW having 14 alcoholic trustees(classB) and only seven non-alcoholic trustees(Class A). We alcoholics are now responsible for our own society and future of the service structure. ❤
Beautiful. The responsibly declaration is to our Third legacy (the 12 concepts) what the “Declaration of unity” is to our 2nd legacy (the 12 traditions) So what exactly does this service piece speak to?
Its simply a reminder that we all take part in the weaving of the protective mantle which covers AA as a whole, by helping to ensure the future of AA for “the alcoholic not yet born.” By supporting the GSO, and by learning as much as we can about our traditions, concepts and history. Educating myself about these things I help to ensure AAs future, so in the ages ahead, AA is still here for my great great grandkids. Even the isolated and incarserated. Although reaching out to the alcoholic who walks through the door today, is crucial, THIS decloration speaks to the preservation of the fellowship for future generations. And for that, I am responsible. Read more in “As Bill Sees It” under Wilsons letter titled “I am responsible”

I receive the Grapevine Daily Quote every morning which triggered an impulse to connect the responibility statement today. March 15 2020 reads… “Though three hundred thousand did recover in the last twenty-five years, maybe half a million more have walked into our midst, and then out again. No doubt some were too sick to make even a start. Others couldn’t or wouldn’t admit their alcoholism. Still others couldn’t face up to their underlying personality defects. Numbers departed for still other reasons. “Yet we can’t well content ourselves with the view that all these recovery failures were entirely the fault of the newcomers themselves. Perhaps a great many didn’t receive the kind and amount of sponsorship they so sorely needed. We didn’t communicate when we might have done so. So we AAs failed them. Perhaps more often than we think, we still make no contact at depth with those suffering the dilemma of no faith.” AA Co-Founder, Bill W., April 1961, “God As We Understand Him: The Dilemma of No Faith,”, The Language of the Heart I believe this article as well Dr. Jack’s excerpt from the ‘Anniversary Book’ are very much in line and speak to the individual AA, where as Bills speach and follow up article in 1965 Grapevine are more related to the Concepts and related to AA as a whole. Both extremely important.

Thank you for pointing out the detailed history, and context. Context I gather is the changing the AA Board to be all alcoholics and eliminating non-alcoholics. and especially the History: the ‘I’ responsibly pledge comes from the Third Legacy, the 12 Concepts for World Service; the responsibly pledge came much later than the 12 Traditions (for Service). I suppose one can work the 12 steps (Recovery) then the 12 Traditions (Service) -and then- the 12 Concepts (Unity) [so the ‘I” Responsibility Pledge of Unity after working Service-Traditions] — Many Blessings to You

I have always found it interesting that this statement specifically says “reaches out for help” It doesn’t say “reaches out for help about his/her drinking”

I think it gently but unmistakably forces each of us to ask ourselves what we can contribute to the task of keeping AA available. Granted, age and infirmity might limit our choices, but even just listening to someone over the phone is the “hand” of AA. Early in my sobriety, I was picked up out of a slump by an 85-year-old AA member whom I visited in a cancer hospice. .I went there to comfort him, but he turned the tables on me.

If someone asks for help, of course I’ll help but the statement itself seems to confer a lot of responsibility on oneself. I’m in my 83rd year soon to be in my 84th year of breathing and perhaps no one thought of old age.would love to know how old whoever came up with it. When I was younger it wasn’t a problem but for someone to read it to me,perhaps the statement ought to begin with the most important word that began sobriety with me, the as program starts off with WE, the statement might be better starting with WE. Just a suggestion like the book reads.

It should never never never be WE!!
The problems of the world today are greatly increased by the deliberate abdication of personal responsibility
AA does not follow the dictates of a world where nothing is MY responsibility and everything is THEIR responsibility thereby ensuring nobody is responsible.
No it says I am responsible.
If age or infirmity restrict us we only need to arrange for another AA to handle the task, but it is my responsibility to make that arrangement
God spare us from collective responsibility
Mike Price

Never send three men to feed a horse. Because that horse won’t get fed—each man will think one of the others did it.