12 Traditions of AA
The Twelve Traditions
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery dependsupon 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 leadersare but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stopdrinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affectingother groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its messageto 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, decliningoutside 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 serviceboards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hencethe A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather thanpromotion; 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.
The Long Form of Tradition Twelve
And finally we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery dependsupon 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 leadersare but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stopdrinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affectingother groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its messageto 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, decliningoutside 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 serviceboards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hencethe A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather thanpromotion; 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.
The Long Form of Tradition Twelve
And finally we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.
