CSC Motion #24063 ~  CoDA Conference endorsed literature

A new definition of a CoDA Meeting

Greetings to all worldwide members of the CoDA Fellowship …

At the 2024 CSC, Motion #24063 was presented by the CoDA Literature Committee (CLC).  This motion was considered and accepted with a 2/3 majority, binding upon the Board to accept the motion unless it did not meet our legal or financial standards.  The motion does meet these standards. [1] 

We wish to provide the results of this motion and its effect on the Fellowship.  Firstly, we express – briefly – the essence of the motion; afterwards, we provide more extensive details for those who wish to be more aware; the details are broken down into sections to facilitate reading and understanding.  If you have questions or additional concerns, please feel free to contact us at board@coda.org. 

• The essence of CoDA Conference endorsed literature,

Motion #24063

Motion #24063 now requires a new definition of a CoDA meeting due to a change to the policy regarding the use of ‘Outside Literature at CoDA Meetings’. 

The major change as a result of this motion is that all CoDA groups, within the worldwide Fellowship, will only be able to use CoDA Conference endorsed literature during regular meetings.  Outside literature will not be possible.  The previous reference to CoDA groups being permitted – by informed group conscience – to use other outside literature is no longer permitted under any circumstances.

• If I don’t agree with the motion, what can i do?

We understand that all may not be in favor of this motion. We do ask that you hold discussions leading to group conscience decisions so that we honor Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA Unity. 

Please know that we appreciate your service and support to our Fellowship. If you have questions or additonal concerns, please feel free to contact us at board@coda.org. 

• The coda policy (found in the FSM, part 2)

The current policy, in its entirety, can be found in the last revised edition (2.4.24) of Fellowship Service Manual (FSM) Part 2, Section 01, page 6, permitted a group - by informed group conscience - to use outside literature.  This policy will now need to be changed to meet the requirements of Motion #24063.  

This, in part, explains why we wish to inform the Fellowship as soon as possible.  We encourage all worldwide members of the Fellowship to read the FSM and become familiar with other policies regarding CoDA.

The policy refers to CoDA’s Twelve Traditions which are still required reading for a group to be considered a CoDA meeting. (FSM, Part2, Section 1, Page 5, What is a CoDA Meeting)  This does not change. The other three required readings also remain in effect; these are listed on the same page.

• What is a coda meeting?

“What is a CoDA meeting?”, before the motion, is in the FSM, PT 2, pg 5.

This motion requests “What is a CoDA Meeting” to be changed to the following:

A CoDA meeting is part of the twelve-step Fellowship, Co-Dependents Anonymous. Each CoDA group is made up of two or more people who come together because of their shared desire for healthy and loving relationships, with the primary purpose of carrying the message of Co-Dependents Anonymous to those who still suffer. CoDA meetings use The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous as the basis for working the CoDA recovery program. In CoDA meetings, members share their personal experience, strength, and hope, gained by working the CoDA recovery program.

Because The Twelve Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous are the basis of our recovery, it is strongly suggested that each meeting set aside at least one meeting per month for step study. Because The Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous are the spiritual foundation of our meetings, our service, and our lives, it is strongly suggested that meetings set aside one meeting each month for tradition study.

The use of Co-Dependents Anonymous, our basic text, and other CoDA Conference endorsed literature at meetings builds unity, trust, and shared welfare. This maintains continuity in the CoDA recovery message across all CoDA meetings. CoDA endorsed literature is written and endorsed by and for CoDA members. As such, it reflects the voice of the Fellowship of Co-Dependents Anonymous worldwide.

For more basic information about CoDA meetings, see the CoDA booklet, Newcomer Handbook, Second Edition.

To be a recognized CoDA meeting, whether in person, phone, or online, meetings:  

1. Register on coda.org by using the online registration form. Required information includes day and time of meeting, first names of one or two contact members and their email addresses, phone number is optional. Listings are expected to be updated annually and when information changes.

2.  Read as written CoDA’s four foundational documents, posted on coda.org, at every meeting:

1. The Preamble of Co-Dependents Anonymous
2. The Welcome of Co-Dependents Anonymous (long or short version)
3. The Twelve Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous
4. The Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous  

3. Use CoDA’s foundational text, Co-Dependents Anonymous, “the CoDA book” as their main resource during CoDA meetings.

4. Use only CoDA Service Conference-endorsed books, workbooks, booklets, and pamphlets during meetings and for sale at in-person meetings.

• What some of our Twelve Traditions say ..

CoDA Traditions support the exclusive use of CoDA Conference endorsed literature. 

We find guidance in our Traditions, particularly Traditions One, Four, Six, and Twelve: 

           Tradition One

“Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA unity. Tradition One tells us that CoDA unity is our first spiritual principle. CoDA’s shared welfare and unity are created by using a consistent format, readings, and literature across all meetings. This allows members to go to a meeting anywhere in the world and hear the same CoDA recovery message. Using outside literature can be divisive and is outside the scope of Co-Dependents Anonymous. 

Tradition Four

 “Each group should remain autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups or CoDA as a whole.”Tradition Four states that groups have autonomy, but not at the expense of the rest of the Fellowship. The use of outside literature creates confusion, particularly for the newcomer, regarding the nature of our program. It creates inconsistency across meetings, distracting from the CoDA message. 

Tradition Six

 “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 Six is clear. CoDA meetings must keep their focus on CoDA’s primary spiritual aim, as a place where suffering codependents can find recovery in the program of Co-Dependents Anonymous. Using outside literature in our meetings endorses and financially supports its author and their message instead of Co-Dependents Anonymous.

Tradition Twelve

 It creates inconsistency, confusion, and controversy and diverts us from our primary spiritual purpose. “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions; ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. ”Tradition Twelve points us to CoDA Conference endorsed literature because our literature is written anonymously, by and for the CoDA Fellowship, and it places the principles found in CoDA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions first. 

• What the Co-dependents Anonymous (blue book) says ..

We recommend that members of the Fellowship read CoDA Conference endorsed publications and listen to the stories of CoDA members in recovery. These publications and recordings are available from CoRe Publications. Other books, of course, are read and used by CoDA members, but CoDA, as a Fellowship, cannot recommend or endorse specific books outside approved CoDA literature. We honor Tradition Six by not endorsing any other literature, program, individual, or institution.

                                                         Co-Dependents Anonymous, Third Edition, page 127

• What can I do, if my group does use non CoDA-endorsed literature?

When a CoDA meeting uses outside literature, it is no longer adhering to the CoDA principles of unity, trust, integrity, and anonymity, even if the use of outside literature is affirmed by the meeting group conscience. When a CoDA group operates outside of the definition of a CoDA meeting, it does not adhere to the principles found in our Traditions. This affects its members, other meetings, and CoDA as a whole. 

If a CoDA member believes a group is not acting in accordance with the definition of a CoDA meeting, that member is encouraged to bring the issue to their group conscience or group business meeting. The meeting may decide to make use of a group inventory, such as those included in The Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions Workbook and Traditionally Speaking as part of the group conscience process. 

Members may look to nearby meetings for information and support. They may also approach their intergroup, regional group, or voting entity for information, and clarity, and to encourage their group to align with the definition of a CoDA meeting as stated above. 

If no resolution occurs, any member or group may contact CoDA’s Issues Mediation Committee (IMC) imc@coda.org 

• What is the intent of this motion? (From the Delegates Package and the 2024 CSC, excerpts from the Motion’s ‘Intent’)

• With this motion, we no longer rely on published authors or other twelve-step programs to define our unique program of recovery.
• The CoDA Fellowship now establishes clear criteria and boundaries for what is and is not a CoDA meeting.
• Since then (1986), recovering CoDA members have created a growing catalog of literature, based on our shared experience, strength, and hope, thereby eliminating the need for outside literature.
• As our understanding of codependence and recovery has matured, we are led to rely on our own CoDA literature. CoDA Conference endorsed literature carries a consistent CoDA recovery message which creates unity across the Fellowship.
• Purchasing outside literature deprives CoDA of financial support.
• The primary purpose of CoDA literature is to reach the codependent who still suffers with a consistent message and to support their recovery in CoDA. Each piece of literature has been written and edited using an extensive and on-going group conscience process.

REFERENCE 

1. BYLAW  ARTICLE V, SECTION 4, PG 9

Motions may be made by voting members in accordance with conference approved guidelines. Likewise, committee chairs may present committee motions during their report to CSC. A motion passes if it is accepted by a simple majority of the total number of Voting Members present. If it passes by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total number of Voting Members present, it is binding upon the Trustees, except to the extent the implementation of such a motion would cause the Trustees to be in violation of the Board of Trustees’ legal responsibilities to the Corporation and its members or would put the fiscal integrity of the Corporation at risk. A simple majority is not binding on the Board of Trustees, although they may agree to be bound by the vote.