12 Traditions
1. Our common welfare should come first;
personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate 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 only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire
to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting
other groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its
message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the
A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of
money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting,
declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional,
but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may
create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues;
hence the A.A. 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 and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions,
ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Understanding
These Traditions
comes slowly over a period of time.
We pick up information as we talk to members and visit various groups. It
usually isn't until we get involved with service that someone points out
that "personal recovery depends on N.A. unity", and that unity depends on
how well we follow our Traditions. The Twelve Traditions of N.A. are not
negotiable. They are the guidelines that keep our fellowship alive and free.
By following these guidelines in our dealings with others and society at
large, we avoid many problems. That is not to say our Traditions eliminate
them all.
We still have to face difficulties as they arise: communication problems,
differences of opinion, internal controversies, and troubles with individuals
and groups outside the fellowship. However, when we apply these principles,
we avoid some of the pitfalls. Many of our problems are like those our predecessors
had to face. Their hard-won experience gave birth to the Traditions, and
our own experience has shown that these principles are just as valid today
as they were when these Traditions were formulated. Our Traditions protect
us from the internal and external forces which could destroy us. They are
truly the ties that bind us together. It is only through understanding
and application that they work.