12 Concepts of OA Service

  1. Concept One: Unity
    The ultimate responsibility and authority for OA world services reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
  2. Concept Two: Conscience
    The OA groups have delegated to the World Service Business Conference the active maintenance of our world services; thus, the World Service Business Conference is the voice, authority and effective conscience of OA as a whole.
  3. Concept Three: Trust
    The right of decision, based on trust, makes effective leadership possible.
  4. Concept Four: Equality
    The right of participation ensures equality of opportunity for all in the decision-making process.
  5. Concept Five: Consideration
    Individuals have the right of appeal and petition in order to ensure that their opinions and personal grievances will be carefully considered.
  6. Concept Six: Responsibility
    The World Service Business Conference has entrusted the Board of Trustees with the primary responsibility for the administration of Overeaters Anonymous.
  7. Concept Seven: Balance
    The Board of Trustees has legal rights and responsibilities accorded to them by OA Bylaws, Subpart A; the rights and responsibilities of the World Service Business Conference are accorded to it by Tradition and by OA Bylaws, Subpart B.
  8. Concept Eight: Delegation
    The Board of Trustees has delegated to its Executive Committee the responsibility to administer the OA World Service Office.
  9. Concept Nine: Ability
    Able, trusted servants, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are indispensable for effective functioning at all service levels.
  10. Concept Ten: Clarity
    Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority; therefore, duplication of efforts is avoided.
  11. Concept Eleven: Humility
    Trustee administration of the World Service Office should always be assisted by the best standing committees, executives, staffs and consultants.
  12. Concept Twelve: Guidelines: The spiritual foundation for OA service ensures that:
    1. Selflessness
      (a) No OA committee or service body shall ever become the seat of perilous wealth or power;
    1. Realism
      (b) Sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, shall be OA’s prudent financial principle;
    1. Representation
      (c) No OA member shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority;
    1. Dialogue
      (d) All important decisions shall be reached by discussion, vote and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity;
    1. Compassion
      (e) No service action shall ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; and
    1. Respect
      (f) No OA service committee or service board shall ever perform acts of government, and each shall always remain democratic in thought and action.