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Al-Anon's
Twelve Traditions
The
Traditions that follow bind us together in unity. They guide the groups in
their relations with other groups, with AA and the outside world. They
recommend group attitudes toward leadership, membership, money, property,
public relations, and anonymity. The Traditions evolved from the experience
of AA groups in trying to solve their problems of living and working
together. Al-Anon has adopted these group guidelines and over the years has
found them sound and wise. Although they are only suggestions, Al-Anon's unity and perhaps even its survival are
dependent on adherence to these principles.
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.
{Reprinted with permission from the
Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27),
© Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1992 Revised 2005}
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