AB+ 2026 WSBC Motions
Here’s a summary of our 4 motions:
Proposal E: to change “compulsive overeating” to “compulsive eating” in the first sentence of the Preamble.
Proposal 3: to change “compulsive overeater” to “compulsive eater” in Tradition 5.
Proposal 4: to change “compulsive overeater” to “compulsive eater” in Step 12.
Proposal 5: to change the requirement for changing the steps or traditions to needing 55% of service bodies to respond instead of 55% of all groups in the world.
The full motions are below
Proposal 4: to change “compulsive overeater” to “compulsive eater” in Step 12.
Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article 1 The Twelve Steps, Step 12 as follows:
| CURRENT WORDING Article # 1 Section # 12 (Step 12) 12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs. | PROPOSED WORDING Article # 1 Section # 12 (Step 12) 12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive |
SUBMITTED BY: Anorexic/Bulimic Service Board of OA
Ethel
WSBCmotions@aboaservice.org
INTENT: Bring the wording of the 12 Steps in line with the 3rd Tradition and with the OA Preamble.
IMPLEMENTATION: Change the steps in all online material immediately. Change the steps in all printed OA materials once the current stock is used up.
COST: $ amount (if known).
HOW DOES THIS MOTION SUPPORT OA’S PRIMARY PURPOSE? Our preamble says, “Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer.” Our twelfth step must include all who suffer from our disease, per our preamble and the 3rd tradition.
RATIONALE: OA serves a much broader membership than just those who suffer from compulsive overeating. Our third tradition states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. This change would make our steps consistent with our traditions.
Proposal 5: to change “compulsive overeater” to “compulsive eater” in Tradition 5
Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article II The Twelve Traditions, Tradition 5 as follows:
| CURRENT WORDING Article # 2 Section # 5 (Tradition 5) 5) Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers. | PROPOSED WORDING Article # 2 Section # 5 (Traditon 5) 5) Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the compulsive |
SUBMITTED BY: Anorexic/Bulimic Service Board of OA
Ethel
WSBCmotions@aboaservice.org
INTENT: Bring the wording of the 5th Tradition in line with the 3rd Tradition and the OA Preamble, to include all who suffer from our disease.
IMPLEMENTATION: Change the traditions in all online material immediately. Change the steps in all printed OA materials once the current stock is used up.
COST: $ amount (if known).
HOW DOES THIS MOTION SUPPORT OA’S PRIMARY PURPOSE? As it states in the OA Preamble, Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. Our fifth tradition should include all who suffer from our disease, per our preamble and 3rd tradition.
RATIONALE: OA serves a much broader membership than just those who suffer from compulsive overeating. Our third tradition states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. This change would make our traditions internally consistent.
Proposal E: to change “compulsive overeating” to “compulsive eating” in the first sentence of the Preamble.
Move to amend the OA Preamble as follows:
| CURRENT WORDING Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength, and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology, or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. | PROPOSED WORDING Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength, and hope, are recovering from compulsive We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology, or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. |
SUBMITTED BY: Anorexic/Bulimic Service Board of OA
Ethel
WSBCmotions@aboaservice.org
INTENT: We want the preamble to welcome all people with compulsive eating disorders.
IMPLEMENTATION: Change the preamble in all online material immediately. Change the preamble in all printed OA materials once the current stock is used up.
COST: $ amount (if known).
HOW DOES THIS MOTION SUPPORT OA’S PRIMARY PURPOSE? Our preamble says, “Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer.” The opening line should be just as welcoming to compulsive eaters of all types.
The opening line to our preamble should be consistent with the rest of the preamble, which includes:
“We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively” and
“Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors.”
This would also make the preamble consistent with the Third Tradition, “The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.”
RATIONALE: OA serves a much broader membership than just those who suffer from compulsive overeating. Anorexics and bulimics are a significant part of the fellowship of OA.
Our third tradition states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. This change would make our preamble internally consistent, and consistent with the third Tradition.
Proposal 5: Proposal 5: to change the requirement for changing the steps or traditions to needing 55% of service bodies to respond instead of 55% of all groups in the world.
Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article 12 Section 1f as follows:
| CURRENT WORDING Article #12 Section #1f Amendments to Article I (Twelve Steps) and Article II (Twelve Traditions) of Subpart B of these bylaws may only be adopted if, in addition to d) above, they are ratified by three-fourths of the registered Overeaters Anonymous groups responding within six months of notification, provided at least 55 percent of the registered groups have responded. | PROPOSED WORDING Article # 1 Section # 1f Amendments to Article I (Twelve Steps) and Article II (Twelve Traditions) of Subpart B of these bylaws may only be adopted if, in addition to d) above, they are ratified by three-fourths of the registered Overeaters Anonymous |
SUBMITTED BY: Anorexic/Bulimic Service Board of OA
Ethel
WSBCmotions@aboaservice.org
INTENT: Make the requirement for changing the steps or traditions be more workable given the long-standing difficulties of direct communication between groups and World Service.
IMPLEMENTATION: Change the bylaws.
COST: None. Would probably save staff time in the event of a proposed change to the Steps or Traditions, since they would have to contact fewer bodies, and the contact information is likely more up-to-date.
HOW DOES THIS MOTION SUPPORT OA’S PRIMARY PURPOSE? In order to carry the message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers, the message must be given in language that people can understand.
Language naturally changes over time. OAs of the present and future need to be able to re-word the steps and traditions to give the most effective message of OA recovery possible.
RATIONALE: In order for the membership to be represented, there needs to be a way for anything about the program that the fellowship wants to change to be changeable.
Though we do not think this was the intention, the effect of the current bylaws for changing the steps or traditions makes it virtually impossible. A change that is wanted by 100% the groups that have up-to-date contact information with World Service could not be implemented because there are so many meetings on the books that no longer exist or cannot be contacted.
Groups interact with World Service through their service boards. That is the natural place for groups to express their opinion on any change to OA.
It makes good sense for there to be a higher bar for changing the Steps or Traditions, but having it be virtually impossible makes OA unresponsive to the members of today.