What is Conferenced-Approved Literature?

Literature that is published by S-Anon, SA, Al-Anon, and AA is conference-approved for use in our meetings. This policy dates from the time when S-Anon had very little literature of our own because our fellowship was so new. We now have much more S-Anon conference-approved literature, arising from the need for our fellowship to express the experience, strength, and hope that is uniquely ours as S-Anon members.

In order to preserve the unity of the S-Anon fellowship (Tradition One), our meetings focus on the S-Anon approach to recovery. That is why we recommend that during the meeting there be no mention of specific titles or authors, or discussion of publications other than S-Anon conference-approved literature.

Experience has shown us several other reasons for using only conference-approved literature during our meetings:

The Process

The process of conference approval ensures that S-Anon members, regional representatives, and volunteer editors and readers will thoroughly review the material before publication so that it will be an expression of S-Anon principles supported by the group conscience of S-Anon members. Original material submitted by S-Anon members is coordinated and edited by S-Anon members who may be professional writers and editors. The full names of S-Anon members never appear in the title of S-Anon material, nor is authorship acknowledged. All published material becomes the sole property of the S-Anon fellowship. The First and Fourth Traditions of S-Anon are violated when any group, intergroup, or any other service arm publishes its own literature.

Proposals for the creation of new literature or the broad revision of existing material are brought to the S-Anon Board of Trustees for approval. The material is then developed, and proposed content is reviewed by members of the Literature Committee and presented to the Board of Trustees for their recommendation. If the Board of Trustees recommends approval, the final draft is sent to all members of the Literature Committee for their vote to "approve" or "disapprove" the material as conference-approved Literature.

Other Publications

S-Anews: The S-Anews newsletter is a quarterly publication of the S-Anon International Family Groups (SIFG).  Its purpose is to enhance the recovery of subscribers by publishing articles written by members on different facets of their own recovery, and by keeping subscribers informed of the activities of the S-Anon Board of Trustees and the SIFG office. The S-Anews also includes news of individual groups and regions, and announcements of upcoming events, although S-Anon does not endorse events sponsored by anybody other than an S-Anon group or intergroup.

The idea of having an S-Anon newsletter is conference-approved, but it is not possible to follow the full procedure for conference-approved literature. Nevertheless, everything published in the S-Anews, including personal stories and issues affecting the fellowship, is reviewed for its fidelity to the S-Anon program and principles.

Outside Publications: There are many outside publications on sexaholism, co-addiction, religion, and philosophy which appeal to members as individuals, and we are encouraged to read whatever we find helpful, but S-Anon cannot assume the responsibility for evaluating or recommending reading matter other than conference-approved literature (that is, S-Anon, SA, Al-Anon, or AA literature). It is a violation of Traditions One and Four to promote the sale of outside literature during our meetings.