One of the most beautiful aspects of recovery in CoDA is the emphasis on service, not as an obligation, but as a path to healing, connection, and personal growth. My own journey in CoDA has been profoundly shaped by the various service roles I've embraced over the years. From being a spiritual timekeeper at one of my very first meetings, to becoming a meeting Secretary, to now serving as the Group Service Representative (GSR) for my home group and sponsoring others. Every role has taught me something invaluable.
What Is a GSR and Why Does It Matter?
A Group Service Representative (GSR) serves as a vital link between an individual CoDA group and the larger service structure. GSRs attend national (and sometimes international) meetings, bringing information back to their home group and representing their group’s voice in wider discussions. This includes updates on policy changes, literature developments, service opportunities, and decisions that affect the fellowship as a whole.
When every group has a GSR who attends national-level meetings, it ensures that the collective voice of our diverse fellowship is heard. This kind of representation protects the health, unity, and democratic process of CoDA. It also helps our groups stay informed, aligned with CoDA’s principles, and empowered to participate in shaping the future of our program.
Why Service Is Vital to CoDA
CoDA is a fellowship — and fellowships only thrive when members give freely of their time, energy, and heart. Every meeting, event, piece of literature, and decision at the local, national, or international level exists because someone said, “Yes, I can help.”
Without enough people stepping up for service, groups can become disconnected, meetings may struggle to function, and the greater CoDA structure, which supports newcomers, creates literature, and maintains communication, begins to weaken. It is not about blame or pressure, but about awareness. CoDA relies on us, its members, to carry the message and keep the circle unbroken.
Service is not about doing it perfectly — it's about being present, being willing, and growing through the experience.
The Gift of Service
While service supports the structure and spirit of our fellowship, it also offers profound gifts to those who serve. Giving service isn’t just about filling a role, it’s about deepening your recovery.
For me, service has given a profound sense of purpose. In moments when my recovery felt shaky or when I struggled with connection, service anchored me. I had a reason to show up, not only for myself, but for others.
Through service, I've developed greater empathy and compassion. Whether it’s coordinating a meeting or sponsoring someone, I’ve learned to listen without fixing, to hold space without judgment, and to trust in others’ paths.
Service has also nurtured relationships and a sense of community that I never thought possible. The people I’ve met through CoDA service, at the group, regional, and national levels, have become trusted companions. We support each other, celebrate growth, and walk together on the road of recovery.
And perhaps most surprisingly, personal growth through service often surpasses even the benefits received by those we serve. Stepping into new roles has challenged my old patterns of people-pleasing and avoidance, and given me new tools and confidence. I’ve learned to be humble, to ask for help, to set boundaries, and to trust the group conscience.
Every Group Deserves Representation
If your group does not yet have a GSR, I encourage you to consider stepping into the role or nominating someone you trust. Even if you feel unready, especially if you feel unready, service has a way of helping us grow into the person we’re becoming. And your group deserves to have a voice in the wider fellowship.
Service in CoDA is not about being perfect. It's about being willing. Willing to show up, to learn, to grow, and to give back some of what has been so freely given. It’s in service that many of us discover the kind of healthy connection we’ve longed for. One that is grounded in principles, sustained by fellowship, and enriched by love.
So whether you’re new to CoDA or have been around for a while, consider how you might serve. There’s a role for everyone, and a gift waiting on the other side.
Jason
