2. WAY OF LIFE: TWELVE TRADITIONS
a. PURPOSE OF THE TWELVE TRADITIONS:
The Traditions are a guide for the conduct and unity of the group. Since this Way of Life has no rules or regulations, the Traditions form a common basis that help in the therapy of the group purpose membership, money, public relations, leadership and anonymity.
These principles are suggested for the unity of this fellowship and it's survival depends upon adherence to them. The Traditions protect against the destructive effects of the domination of a few members. They make every member equal, so it is possible to work together in groups and with harmony to the spiritual growth of everyone and mutual understanding.
With this Way of Life, contradictions become differences. It is this way that the problems are solved with an under standing made of tolerance and respect of others.
b. LIST OF THE TWELVE TRADITIONS (Click each Tradition for Explanation)
- TRADITION 1: Our common welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest number depends upon unity.
- TRADITION 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.
- TRADITION 3: When gathered together for mutual aid, the members of Way of Life, as a group, have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership is the sincere desire for personal growth.
- TRADITION 4: Each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting the philosophy of the program as a whole.
- TRADITION 5: Each group has but one purpose: to help the members of the group to accept themselves by practicing the Twelve Steps of the program and by carrying the message to others.
- TRADITION 6: Our groups as such ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any outside enterprise lest problems of money, property and prestige divert from the primary spiritual aim that the program proposes.
- TRADITION 7: Every group ought to be self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- TRADITION 8: Way of life Twelfth Step work, which is to carry the message to others, should remain for ever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- TRADITION 9: Our groups as such, ought never be organized; but we may create Service Boards or Committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- TRADITION 10: Our groups Way of Life have no opinion on outside issues; hence, our name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- TRADITION 11: The public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV and films. We need to guard with special care, the anonymity of all other members.
- TRADITION 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.
FILE NO. 24, PAGE 2 |
|
