ISKCON GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION SOCIETY

Registration Number S/74662 under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961
P.O. Shree Mayapur Dham, Dist. Nadia, West Bengal 741313

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, FEBRUARY 22 � March 5, 2016

Go to 2016 Zonal Assignments


Section 100: APPOINTMENTS

101. GBC Officers and Members

1. His Grace Sesa Das is elected GBC Chairman.

2. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami is elected First Vice-Chairman.

3. His Grace Praghosa Das is elected Second Vice-Chairman.

4. His Holiness Bhakti Purusottama Swami is elected GBC Secretary.

5. His Holiness Prahladananda Swami is elected as a full GBC member.

6. His Grace Revati Raman Das is appointed as Acting GBC.

7. His Grace Tirtharaj Das continues as GBC Candidate.

8. The resignation of His Grace Harivilas Das is accepted.

102. Sannyasa Waiting List

The following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods:

103. Reaffirmation of Ministries and Standing Committees

The following are the Ministry and Standing Committees and their membership assignments for 2016-2017:

Section 200: FINANCES

201. GBC Budget

The GBC budget for 2016-17 is (in INR):

202. Appointment of Auditor

Sri Ritesh Shah & Associates, Chartered Accountants, of P-27, Princep Street, Kolkata 700072, is appointed as statutory auditor for the year 2016-17.

Section 300: INTERNAL ISKCON


301. Midterm Meeting 2015

The Midterm Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society shall take place from October 15-20, 2016, at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India.

302: Accepting a Resignation from the LA BBT Trust (passed by correspondence vote in June 2015)

Whereas Madhu Sevita Das has submitted his resignation from the post of trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (California, USA);

Whereas the other trustees of the California trust have accepted his resignation;

Whereas while the BBT is a distinct and independent legal entity from ISKCON, as the representative of ISKCON, the GBC is grateful for the BBT's reaching out and discussing this change in trustees with the GBC;

Whereas the GBC respects his decision to resign and has no objections:

RESOLVED:

That the GBC hereby confirms acceptance of the resignation of Madhu Sevita Das from the post of trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (Los Angeles).

We understand that Madhu Sevita Das is a director of the BBT International, and continues to work as part of the global body of BBT trustees and directors, thus pushing forward the BBT�s mission.

303. ISKCON 50/50 (passed by correspondence vote in December 2015)

Whereas the ISKCON 50/50 Campaign is to urge each ISKCON devotee to distribute at least 50 books in the year 2016, the 50th anniversary of ISKCON;

Whereas the ISKCON 50/50 Campaign thus has the potential to increase book distribution enormously in 2016;

Whereas the ISKCON 50/50 Campaign has the potential to increase income for the temples, the BBT and the BBT contribution to the TOVP in 2016;

Whereas the ISKCON 50/50 Campaign is a 50th Celebration Event which can involve every devotee in ISKCON throughout the year 2016;

Whereas the 50/50 Campaign will be greatly pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and can be easily achieved with the cooperation of devotees around the world:

RESOLVED:

That the GBC Body gives its backing to this program by way of a resolution of endorsement and a short message of support.

For this message and further information on this resolution, visit www.iskcon5050.com

304: English as Official GBC Language

(originally passed at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

Whereas to have a common language is essential to allow smooth communication among GBC members;

Whereas Srila Prabhupada has consistently utilized English as the language for GBC communications;

Whereas it would be burdensome and impractical (also for considerations of confidentiality) for the GBC to provide translation for every spoken and written communication:

RESOLVED:

1. The GBC formally adopts English as its official language.

2. "Fluency in spoken and written English" is added to the necessary prerequisites for becoming a member of the GBC Body. Exceptions can be made by a four-fifths majority vote.

305: Global Duty Officer

(originally passed at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

Preamble: The GBC is creating a position known as �Global Duty Officer� in which ISKCON devotees can utilize their talents, skills and resources, in the spirit of selfless service, to assist the Governing Body Commission in global matters to fulfill the vision of Srila Prabhupada and the Seven Purposes of ISKCON.

Some of the Global Duty Officers may be later called to serve as GBCs � and in fact becoming a Global Duty Officer is now a prerequisite to becoming a GBC � but the motivation should not be the ambition to acquire the GBC title and status. The recommended mood is being the servant of the servant, using one�s ability and experience to help the GBC in making ISKCON a world-class spiritual organization, to unselfishly engage in Srila Prabhupada�s mission, to obtain senior association and to make a difference in the world.
 
Whereas the GBC welcomes qualified devotees to share the duties and responsibilities of leading a worldwide Society;

Whereas some devotees are qualified, able and willing to serve the Society in global matters;

Whereas the GBC wishes to create a position that provides the possibility of global engagement for qualified individuals (and a testing ground for potential GBCs);

Whereas there is a need to reserve the �GBC� suffix or prefix for full-fledged GBCs and it has been observed that new GBC candidates (and also GBC assistants and acting GBCs) often start representing themselves simply as �GBC� in their zone:

RESOLVED:

That the role and position of Global Duty Officer is hereby established.

The Global Duty Officers shall assist the GBC in its international functions within special projects, GBC Standing Committees, Strategic Planning Network initiatives, global Ministries, attending and serving during GBC meetings, etc. as required by the GBC.

A devotee can be appointed as Global Duty Officer by a simple majority vote of the GBC through the nomination of the GBC Nominations Committee; the appointment can be renewed, on a yearly basis, indefinitely. Appointment of a Global Duty Officer should not be intended as an investiture to become GBC and The Global Duty Officers should never refer to themselves or be referred by others as �GBC,� �GBC member� or any title involving the �GBC� prefix or suffix.

The GBC Nominations Committee will oversee the process of identifying, selecting and assessing the Global Duty Officers.

The GBC Nominations Committee shall also oversee the process of engaging the Global Duty Officers in appropriate service.

The GBC Nominations Committee, if and when desirable, shall nominate some Global Duty Officer to become GBC. Before being recommended as a GBC member, a Global Duty Officer should have served as Global Duty Officer for at least two years (a requisite the GBC can waive by a four-fifths majority) and should have undergone the appropriate training from the GBC College for Leadership Development.

It is also understood that the expectation of the GBC is that the vast majority of new GBCs (approximately ninety percent) would have had experience as Zonal Supervisors.  

306: New Zonal Configuration of North America

(originally passed at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

Whereas the ISKCON leaders of North America have decided to increase the number of zones from eight to sixteen:

RESOLVED:

North America (USA and Canada) shall include sixteen zones:

1.    Canada (whole)

2.    Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island

3.    Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC and three counties in Virginia (Lowden, Prince Williams and Fairfax), Eastern and Central Pennsylvania

4.    New York, New Jersey

5.    Florida

6.    Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi (except New Talavan and southern Mississippi)

7.    Virginia (except Lowden, Prince Williams and Fairfax counties), North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky (except northern Kentucky)

8.    Great Lakes � West Virginia, western Pennsylvania (including Pittsburg), Ohio, Michigan and northern Kentucky (Cincinnati suburban area)

9.    North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri

10.  Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana

11.  South West � New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and southern Mississippi (including New Talavan)

12.  Southern California and Hawaii

13.  Northern California

14.  Central California

15.  Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah and southern Idaho

16.  Northwest � Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska

307: Directional Statement on GBC Deployment

(originally passed at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

The GBC wishes to express its commitment to serve Srila Prabhupada�s mission in the best of ways, which includes offering the world the most systematic oversight and guidance of all ISKCON communities, centers and projects while at the same time promoting outreach to the local populations.

With this aim the GBC is hereby adopting a view of the deployment of its commissioners, the GBC Zonal Secretaries as a directional intention; to be gradually realized to optimize coverage of the planet.

The following general arrangement takes into consideration a number of factors: ISKCON�s presence at the moment, cultural diversity, potential for expansion, geographical parameters, etc. and is presented with the clear understanding that the vision can only be fulfilled by populating the world with zonal supervisors, who will perform their service of zonal leadership and administration under the GBC Zonal Secretaries.

Within the maximum number of GBCs, presently ratified as forty, it is expected that about ninety percent of the total GBCs (thirty-six or so) will have zonal responsibility; the rest will exclusively focus on global issues.

As the internal and external circumstances change, the approach and the map of deployment shall also change, reflecting new needs and developments; therefore, the intention is to review the present outline every few years.

In short, the will is to engage the following number of GBCs in the various broad areas of the world:

Indian Subcontinent: Seven

Europe: Five

North America: Five

Latin America & the Caribbean: Four

Sub-Saharan Africa: Three

Russian Sphere: Four

Islamic countries in North Africa & the Middle East: One

China: Two

South-East & Far East Asia, Australia & Oceania: Five

While the above assignments are intended as full-time engagements for each GBC, the present mapping doesn�t of course preclude or forbid occasional or special deployments in other areas.

308: Devotee Outreach Initiative

(originally passed at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

Whereas a number of devotees, active in ISKCON in the past, have rendered service to Srila Prabhupada�s mission with devotion and distinction but are now distant from, though not inimical to, ISKCON;

Whereas reaching out to such devotees with affection and gratitude during the 50^th anniversary year of Srila Prabhupada's arrival in America and the founding of ISKCON would be pleasing to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON:

RESOLVED:

That the GBC Body wishes to empower a team of devotee volunteers to reach out with affection and gratitude to those who once served Srila Prabhupada energetically and faithfully in ISKCON. Although no longer engaged actively in ISKCON, these devotees may not be inimical to ISKCON. Such an outreach team of devotee volunteers will be coordinated informally by Guru Gauranga Das and Badrinaraya? Swami.

309: Zonal Supervisors

(originally passed as an unpublished resolution at the 2014 Annual General Meeting, and voted to be published at the GBC Midterm Meeting 2015)

Whereas the process of zonal configuration has created the need for clarifying the exact title and service description for those who will supervise the new zones;

Whereas the term �Regional Secretary� is not considered ideal for universal application;

Whereas the service of zonal supervision needs an internationally uniform process of appraisal and development of the candidate;

Whereas the newly ratified zones need zonal supervision:

RESOLVED:

1.    The position of Zonal Supervisor is hereby established.

 2.  The Zonal Supervisor�s primary duty and responsibility is to assist the GBC Zonal Secretary in the administration according to the service description delineated below.

3.    Before formal appointment the candidate Zonal Supervisors shall undergo a standard process of assessment, induction, training and development administered under the supervision of the GBC Succession Committee.

4.    By the 2014 GBC midterm meeting the SOA team (Succession, Organizational Development and Appointment Committees) shall produce and submit a comprehensive program that would constitute the above-mentioned standard process.

5.    By 16 March 2014 GBC Zonal Secretaries shall submit nominations for potential Zonal Supervisor candidates to the GBC Succession Committee.

6.    All other devotees who are presently conducting valuable service within ISKCON aside from this particular function of Zonal Supervisor (Regional Secretaries, non-GBC Zonal Secretaries, etc.) are encouraged to continue enthusiastically in their activities, with the same titles and present service descriptions.

Zonal Supervisor Service Description

 (i)                    Preamble

This document outlines the skill sets and primary focus areas of a Zonal Supervisor, the ISKCON officer assisting a GBC zonal secretary in overseeing a particular territory defined �zone� (at the moment a zone could be constituted by: 1. a group of countries; 2. a single country; 3. more states/provinces within the same country; 4. a single state; 5. a part of a state).  The �zone� shall preferably consist of the entire area within one of the above five zones, or possibly it may cover a portion. The essential feature is that a Zonal Supervisor must fulfill and perform all of the functions found within the service description below.

Primary responsibility: Assisting the GBC Zonal Secretary

Srila Prabhupada: �Divide the whole world into twelve parts. That is first . . . Gradually this GBC, they can take assistants to help them.� (Conversation with the GBC, 25 May 1972, Los Angeles)

From GBC Resolution (1979): �That the GBC recognizes that as per Srila Prabhupada's instructions that GBC men may have thousands of secretaries, individual GBC men may see the need for appointing assistants who will have greater responsibility than temple presidents.�

The GBC Zonal Secretary is the immediate authority of the Zonal Supervisor; the overall responsibility for the management and administration of the zone remains with the GBC Zonal Secretary.

Disclaimer: This document describes the service description for a Zonal Supervisor serving in ISKCON. The GBC Body reserves the right to modify the contents at any time. It is intended to enhance the GBC�s ability to manage ISKCON and is therefore intended for internal ISKCON use only.

310: Appointment of Zonal Supervisors

RESOLVED:

That the following graduates from the GBC College are hereby appointed as Zonal Supervisors:

Radha Krsna Das for Hungary, Turkey and Romania

Srivas Das for West Africa

Amara Gouranga Das for Chile

Mathuresh Das for Bolivia and the highlands of Peru

311: Amendment to Reinstate the Reinstatement Clause

[ISKCON LAW]

Whereas, after amending a previous law that contained a provision for reinstatement for someone who has left or been removed from ISKCON, there is currently no formal provision for someone who has left or been removed from ISKCON to be reinstated:

RESOLVED:

That the previous ISKCON Law 8.4.7.1 be reinstated and amended as below: 

8.4.7.1       Conditions of Reinstatement
Devotees who have left ISKCON are welcome back into ISKCON at any time, provided they agree that:

1.The GBC is the ultimate managerial authority for ISKCON

2. They accept His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, as the preeminent siksa guru for ISKCON.

However, if there are any special circumstances surrounding that devotee�s departure then a procedure of reinstatement may be required. 
 

8.4.7.2       Procedure of Reinstatement
The procedure for formal reinstatement shall be that:

1. the devotee desiring to return shall send a signed letter to GBC Corresponding Secretary stating his agreement to the above-listed provisions (8.4.7.1).

2. The GBC Corresponding Secretary shall send the letter to all GBC members. If no objections are received by the Corresponding Secretary within 90 days of the date of distribution to all members, then the Corresponding Secretary shall send a notice of reinstatement to the devotee in question along with all GBC members.

Notwithstanding the above, in the following cases reinstatement may only be granted by simple majority vote of the full GBC Body:

1.    Devotees who were ISKCON initiating gurus at the time of their original departure from ISKCON, or devotees who accepted disciples since leaving ISKCON;
2.    Devotees who have been found guilty of any serious offence.
3.    Devotees who are currently in the sannyasa asrama.
4.    Devotees who were removed from ISKCON by GBC Resolution 

5.    Devotees for whom a written objection from a GBC member has been submitted to the Corresponding Secretary within 90 days of notification, as per above.

312: Update on Hridayananda Das Goswami

In January Hridayananda Das Goswami, Vaisesika Das and Praghosa Das met in Los Angeles where they discussed many topics and came to a better mutual understanding regarding those topics.

As GBC chairman Praghosa Das strongly pointed out to Hridayananda Das Goswami that the GBC has two immediate areas of concern with him:

1. His strong criticism of the GBC and ISKCON.

2. His relaxed behavior as a sannyasi.

During the discussions, Hridayananda Das Goswami agreed that, effective immediately, he will end his criticism of the GBC and ISKCON. Understanding the need to keep peace and unity within the movement he will, as a sannyasi, act towards that end.

He is deeply concerned to preserve the unity of ISKCON, and wishes to improve his relationship with the GBC. Praghosa Das stressed that controversial behavior on the part of a senior ISKCON member inevitably causes much headache and extra work for the GBC which Hridayananda Das Goswami acknowledged.

As it happens Hridayananda Das Goswami will not be touring this year (2016), as his health and work demands that he settle in a quiet, secluded place and focus on his writing. This will naturally create time and space for rebuilding confidence between himself and the GBC. Hridayananda Das Goswami is keenly aware that some GBC members are skeptical about his willingness to honor these agreements, yet he requests the opportunity to demonstrate his good faith. This agreement will be reviewed at the end of the year but can be terminated if breached. If it were to be breached then Hridayananda Das Goswami understands that the GBC are at liberty to take whatever executive decision they deem necessary.

Hridayananda Das Goswami has also agreed to meet the GBC at their Midterm meeting in October at ISKCON Juhu to discuss all outstanding issues.

313. "Women: Master or Mothers?"

The opinions expressed by Bhakti Vikasa Swami in his book "Women: Masters or Mothers" are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views and practices of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or its Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.