What is the history behind AA’s Unity Declaration?
The Unity Declaration reads: This we owe to A.A.’s future: to place our common welfare first; to keep our Fellowship united. For on A.A. unity depend our lives and the lives of those to come. It was written for A.A.’s 35th Anniversary International Convention that was held in Miami Beach, Florida in July 1970. Unfortunately, it appears that the GSO Archives department does not possess records concerning the author of the Declaration. Documents in our collection indicate that the statement was composed as a combined effort of both the Committee on International Convention and former A.A. trustee, Al S. The correspondence alludes to Al’s involvement as a consultant in composing the statement. Certainly, Al wrote the “Responsibility” Statement that had been introduced at the 1965 International Convention. The “Unity” statement was read by delegates from different countries on Saturday night during the Unity Ceremony. Below, I have presented brief highlights from that night’s ceremony, as
