12 Traditions in Service Work Inventory Tool
When a CoDA Group or member is considering outreach service activities, it is important to consider the 12 Traditions. As a general practice, we suggest the following guideline questions be answered prior to CoDA outreach activities going forward. If the answer to the question does not uphold the tradition, then that must be remedied before proceeding with the activity.
These questions are not inclusive to ask oneself, but we offer this guide as a tool.
CoDA Conference Approved July 2015
TRADITION 1
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA unity.
Members who engage in CoDA outreach keep in mind that their activities are meant to foster CoDA unity, fellowship and recovery.
Does the activity foster unity, fellowship and recovery?
Is the activity in any way divisive?
Are we care-taking or doing something for someone that they could do for themselves?
TRADITION 2
For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving higher power as expressed to our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
As CoDA members, our Higher Power guides us as expressed through our group conscience. No one person leads us, makes plans for us or provides definitive answers to questions.
Sometimes people may circumvent our process by claiming to be interpreters of our group conscience. To avoid confusion, when we participate in a group conscience decision, we may make written notes of the people who were notified and/ or participated, identify the subject discussed, and include the results of the decision.
Have we vetted the activity, yielding to Higher Power with our group conscience, using the Twelve Traditions as our guide?
Has a leader bypassed group conscience?
Has a leader provided answers or guidance without referring to CoDA literature?
TRADITION 3
The only requirement for membership in CoDA is a desire for healthy and loving relationships.
CoDA is based on inclusion. Anyone who has a desire for healthy and loving relationships is welcome.
Does the activity imply a focus on attainment of healthy and loving relationships?
Is participation being sidelined for other reasons?
TRADITION 4
Each group should remain autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CoDA as a whole.
Autonomy gives CoDA meetings the right to make decisions about meeting policies and procedures based their group conscience. Decisions center on our common welfare, using CoDA approved literature as a background. We acknowledge we are part of a greater whole, the CoDA Fellowship.
It is important to note that CoDA Service groups are "directly responsible to those they serve." Tradition 9. As such, if they interpret or add to CoDA approved literature, they get approval from the Fellowship at the annual Service Conference.
Is the autonomy of the meeting being influenced by outside entities or individuals?
Does the activity conflict with the autonomy of another CoDA group?
TRADITION 5
Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to other codependents who still suffer.
The central theme of this tradition is to keep the focus on one thing, which is carrying the message. The unique ability of each codependent to identify with and share the CoDA message, uninfluenced by other practices, beliefs or motivations is the primary purpose of each group.
Does the group or activity have any other purpose than the primary one?
Is the focus of the activity directed toward carrying the message to the codependent who still suffers?
TRADITION 6
A CoDA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the CoDA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim.
Tradition 6 keeps us focused on our primary spiritual aim in Tradition 5- "carrying the message to codependents who still suffer." We don't contribute funds in the name of CoDA or use the CoDA name to promote related facilities or outside enterprises. We may, through group conscience, allow outside facilities to distribute outreach info in the form of flyers, brochures, meeting lists, etc., to get the word out about our program.
We don't endorse outside enterprises, outside recovery activities, political philosophies or religion. We may cooperate with other groups in a broad sense, such as sharing table space at a conference, but we do not otherwise endorse or recommend these outside activities.
Does the activity allow the CoDA name to be used to endorse or finance a related facility or outside enterprise?
Is the CoDA name being lent to a related facility or outside enterprise, or used in a way that can divert us from our primary spiritual aim?
TRADITION 7
A CoDA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions
The guiding principle for outreach is to not accept contributions from outside entities. The practice is to simply decline. This includes material contributions and contributions of services. We gain support from our activities from within. Members and groups contribute as they are able.
Does the activity involve a contribution of money, material, or service from an outside entity or non-CoDA member?
Does the activity involve a contribution from a CoDA member who is not part of a group conscience process?
Does the contributing CoDA member expect gifts, money or friendship in return?
TRADITION 8
Co-Dependents Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
CoDA members with professional credentials participate in outreach activities only as recovering members of our fellowship. If trusted servants lead professional lives, they have an obligation to establish a boundary keeping their service separate from their profession.
At times, we may not have all the skills required to carry the message and professionals may be required. We pay them for services rendered and ensure that they honor all our traditions. For example, the CoDA.org international website requires special expertise beyond what we may have in the fellowship. We hire outside individuals to perform this work.
Are members using their personal professions to dominate service work?
If service workers are being employed, are we overseeing their activity to ensure the Traditions are being honored?
TRADITION 9
CoDA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
While CODA requires boards and committees to carry out its responsibilities it is not a hierarchical organization with leaders who are vested with authority. When making decisions they must be mindful that they are accountable to those they serve. Boards and committees cannot make policy or define the nature of CoDA, without the approval of the Fellowship. Rather, responsibilities are carried out in the spirit of service to CoDA as a whole.
Guideline Questions for Tradition Nine:
Have we stepped out of the boundaries of trusted service to the fellowship, or individual members around the world?
Have we tried to make policy or define the nature of CoDA independent of what appears in official CoDA service items and literature?
TRADITION 10
CoDA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the CoDA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
In performing service, we must refrain from providing opinions on outside issues. We do not use communications or publicity of any kind to draw CoDA, its board of service boards, or any CoDA member into public controversy on any matter.
In the performance of our responsibilites, are we providing opinion on outside issues?
Does the activity create or tie in with any kind of public controversy?
TRADITION 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 all other public forms of media.
From our CoDA Workbook, “Attraction is a force that draws people together. CoDA members practicing recovery have an inner quality that attracts others. We rely on this quality when we engage with the public.”
Promotion is what companies use to advocate products and services, to make sales. There are problems with promotion in this manner that is prohibited.
In service, we must be careful not to promote CoDA with a sales pitch. Anything that has the quality of luring the newcomer in CoDA into the Fellowship, or exaggerating its benefits, or not accurately reflecting the reality of CoDA should not go forward. We also avoid making statements that promise benefits “without qualifications”. “Without qualification” means the statement may not be completely achievable for every individual.
In keeping with Tradition Eleven, our CoDA Workbook, gives us examples of the above to avoid such as “identifying ourselves professionally; offering opinions; and offering particular outcomes, such as suggesting that attending CoDA meetings will straighten out a marriage or that you’ll feel better within a month.” Most individuals are unlikely to achieve such results without further effort.
The CoDA Workbook also says “Another form of inappropriate promotion would be advertising that a prominent author recommends Co-Dependents Anonymous.”
We do not re-invent codependency when publicizing CoDA at events (such as therapist conferences), meetings, or other activities. For content of any publicity about CoDA that involves the nature or characteristics of codependency, it is best to use CoDA-approved literature, such as leaflets, pamphlets, or other service items.
The second part of the tradition deals with anonymity. We maintain anonymity in public relations because it allows us to maintain our personal recovery by keeping CoDA unity. The reason is there is no individual ego to benefit from it, as it would from advertising an individual and making him/her into a public figure.
Publicity about CoDA meetings or functions must never divulge the identity of any CoDA member beyond phone numbers and first names with last name initial (example: John L), even if that member wants their identity to be known. All visual representations of people must not be recognizable by the public.
Guideline Questions for Tradition Eleven:
Might the identity of a person be revealed or his or her face or person in any communication and / or publicity?
Does the content of communications or publicity about what CoDA is stray from what appears in CoDA approved literature?
Does the communication or publicity about CoDA meetings or functions contain statements that promise a benefit without qualification?
TRADITION 12
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions; ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
From our CoDA Workbook, “being anonymous may include not only leaving our last names private but also where we live, how much money we make and what we do for a living. Social, economic, and political differences are not identified within the Fellowship... Anonymity creates safety because it establishes an environment where we can speak with less fear of being judged or quoted.” When we keep CoDA principles before personalities, we are able to honor the spiritual foundation of all our traditions.
Guideline Questions for Tradition Twelve:
As we carry out service, are we able to put the principle of anonymity above the wants of our personalities?
Are we able to observe the principles of CoDA when we have a disagreement or personal dislike for the personality or behavior of another trusted servant or group conscience?