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The Twelve Traditions
These
guidelines are means of promoting harmony and growth in Al-Anon groups and
in the worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon as a whole. Our group experience
suggests that our unity depends upon our adherence to these Traditions.
1. Our common
welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest number depends
upon unity.
2. For our group
purpose there is but one authority -- a loving God as He may express Himself
in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not
govern.
3. The relatives
of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may call themselves an
Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, as a group, they have no other
affiliation. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem
of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
4. Each group
should be autonomous, except in matters affecting another group or Al-Anon
or AA as a whole.
5. Each Al-Anon
Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this
by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and
understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort
to families of alcoholics. |
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6. Our Al-Anon
Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside
enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our
primary spiritual aim. Although a separate entity, we should always
cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous.
7. Every group
ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Al-Anon
Twelfth-Step work should remain forever non-professional, but our service
centers may employ special workers.
9. Our groups, as
such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or
committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. The Al-Anon
Family Groups have no opinion on outside issues; hence our name ought never
be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public
relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need
always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV and
films. We need guard with special care the anonymity of all AA members.
12. Anonymity is
the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place
principles above personalities |
