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Commentaries on the Twelve Traditions of SCA

Introduction

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous derives from the first Twelve Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. During its first decade, Alcoholics Anonymous accumulated substantial experience which indicated that certain group attitudes and principles were particularly valuable in ensuring the survival and welfare of the AA Fellowship. In 1946, in the Fellowship’s international journal, the AA Grapevine, these principles were committed to writing, and became the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were adopted by the AA Fellowship as a whole at the first AA International Convention in 1950.

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous has adopted and adapted the Twelve Traditions for use within the SCA Fellowship. Like AA, we have found that just as the Twelve Steps permit our individual recovery, so too do the Twelve Traditions make possible our collective recovery. By following the Twelve Traditions, our members, groups and service bodies will continue to maintain our common welfare and allow SCA to thrive in its primary purpose – of carrying the message of recovery to the sexual compulsive who still suffers. The following commentaries are intended to illustrate the Twelve Traditions as we apply them in SCA, reflecting the experience and specific circumstances of Sexual Compulsives Anonymous.

Click on the links to read the individual commentaries:

Tradition One

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon SCA unity.

Tradition Two

For our group purpose there is but one authority — a loving God as may be expressed in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

Tradition Three

The only requirement for SCA membership is a desire to stop having compulsive sex.

Tradition Four

Each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups or SCA as a whole.

Tradition Five

Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the sexual compulsive who still suffers.

Tradition Six

An SCA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the SCA name to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

Tradition Seven

Every SCA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

Tradition Eight

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

Tradition Nine

SCA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

Tradition Ten

SCA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the SCA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

Tradition Eleven

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films.

Tradition Twelve

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Click on the link to read the full commentaries:

Commentaries on the Twelve Traditions of SCA