THE TWELVE
TRADITIONS
These
guidelines
are the means of promoting harmony and growth in Al-Anon groups and in
the world-wide 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.
- 6.
Our 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 co-operate 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, films, and TV. 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.
Al-Anon’s Twelve Traditions,
copyright 1996 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
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