erewith an Adaptation of the Twelve Traditions
of Alcoholics Anonymous:JIM H.
AA's TRADITIONS FOR
GODFRIENDS
erewith an Adaptation of the Twelve Traditions
of Alcoholics Anonymous:
ONE -- Each Godfriend is but a small part of a great whole. Our common welfare comes first but individual welfare follows close afterward.
TWO -- For our purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving God as God may be expressed in our group conscience.
THREE -- Godfriends may refuse none who wish to join us unless they would refuse others. Nor ought Godfriends' membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three Godfriends gathered together in the love of God may call themselves a Godfriends' group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.
FOUR -- With respect to its own affairs, each group of Godfriends should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect Godfriends as a whole. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.
FIVE -- Each group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose -- that of loving God as the Godfriends, individually, understand God.
SIX -- Problems of money, property, and authority may easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim. We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to Godfriends should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual. A Godfriends group, as such, should never go into business. While a group of Godfriends may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. A group of Godfriends can bind itself to no one.
SEVEN -- The groups of Godfriends themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members. We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Godfriends is highly dangerous, whether by the groups themselves, or outside agencies; that acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any obligation whatever, is unwise. Then, too, we view with much concern those Godfriends' treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated Godfriends' purpose. Nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.
EIGHT -- Godfriends should remain forever non-professional. We define professionalism as the occupation of teaching or counseling for fees or hire. But we may employ individual Godfriends where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage nonGodfriends. Such special services may be well recompensed.
NINE -- Each Godfriends group needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is the best. The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which may employ a full-time secretary. All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in Godfriends are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.
TEN -- No Godfriends group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate Godfriends, express any opinion on outside controversial issues -- particularly those of politics, or sectarian religion. The Godfriends groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever.
ELEVEN -- Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity., We think Godfriends ought to avoid advertising or publicity. Our names and pictures as members of Godfriends ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.
TWELVE -- And
finally, we of Godfriends 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 God who presides over us all.
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