August & September
Steps and Traditions
Promises of Step 8 in the OA 12/12:
- “The action of praying for those we resent will work, even if we don’t mean a word of what we’re saying.”
- “If we keep praying for them faithfully, sooner or later our feelings will change.”
- “We can be willing to do something we don’t want to do”
-Anonymous
Promises of Step 9 in the OA 12/12:
- “Our lives are changed, our broken relationships mended, and the resentment that poisoned our hearts for years is washed away.”
- “When we finish our amends most of us feel closer to our Higher Power than ever before.”
- “We no longer need the crutch of excess food because we have discovered a way of life that nourishes us physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
-Anonymous
-The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, 2nd edition, copyright Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.”
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Tradition 8
Overeaters Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Sponsoring, leading, speaking at meetings or to outside groups, and carrying the message are all examples of 12th step work that is always free from any financial motives. However, we do have paid employees in our World Service Office in New Mexico to provide the necessary business and support needs of OA.
-Anonymous, CT
Tradition 9
OA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
As OA members, our only purpose is to carry the message to those who still suffer, so we spend most of our meeting time focused on recovery. But there are many things that need to be coordinated to keep a group and OA running and healthy so we create service positions at the group level and service boards (Intergroups, Regions and World Service) and they are organized. These are our trusted servants. They derive their authority from us. At the group level, we need to remember the saying “if it is to be, it’s up to me” and that participating in the business affairs of our group is important to our ongoing recovery.
-Anonymous, CT
