DRAFT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE GROUP CONSCIENCE
“Kindr, as such, ought never be organised; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”
Tradition Nine safeguards the spirit of Kindr as a fellowship, not a hierarchy. We are not an institution, a company, or a chain of command. We are a spiritual community—fluid, voluntary, and alive. Our structure is light and flexible so that our message can move freely. Kindr is led by spiritual principles, not by rules or rulers.
This Tradition may seem paradoxical: we are never to be “organised,” yet we may create service structures. The heart of the matter is this—Kindr is built on spiritual equality. No one governs. No one commands. But for practical matters—literature, finances, events, outreach—we may choose to form groups, committees, or service boards. These bodies serve the fellowship; they do not direct it.
Any committee or board we form must remain directly responsible to those it serves. That means open communication, clear accountability, and a willingness to listen. Service is not about power—it is about trust. Those who serve must never forget whom they are serving: the groups, the meetings, the individual addicts who come through the door.
We avoid rigid organisation because it would choke the spirit of recovery. Kindr works best when it stays simple, heartfelt, and grounded in service. We resist the temptation to create elaborate systems or bureaucracies. The more complex we become, the more likely we are to forget why we exist: to carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers.
And yet, some organisation is helpful—so long as it stays in its place. Trusted servants may handle schedules, websites, bank accounts, or outreach. But the true power in Kindr lies not in those roles—it lies in the circle of chairs, the shared stories, the quiet moment of identification between two addicts.
Tradition Nine reminds us that the soul of Kindr is spiritual, not structural. It flourishes not because we control it, but because we care for it—together, humbly, and with love.
Key Spiritual Principles in Tradition Nine:
Flexibility – We keep our structures light so that the spirit of recovery can move freely.
Service – Any organisational body exists solely to serve the needs of the fellowship.
Accountability – Those in service positions are responsible to the groups they support, not above them.
Humility – We avoid the trappings of control or prestige and remember that our strength is spiritual.
Simplicity – We resist unnecessary complication, trusting that what works in recovery is often simple and human.
DRAFT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE GROUP CONSCIENCE