GBC RESOLUTIONS
1988
February 20, 1988
1. Election of officers
The GBC executive officers for 1988-89 are:
Chairman – Ravindra Svarupa dasa
Vice Chairman – Jagadish Goswami
Secretary – Bhakti Caru Swami
2. That the Corresponding Secretary be established as a permanent office under the GBC Executive Committee.
3. That Bhaktarupa das be appointed as the Corresponding Secretary of the GBC.
4. That the relevant section of the GBC Rules of Order dealing with the duties of the GBC secretary be amended to read as follows:
“He shall summon and attend all meetings of the GBC and shall be responsible that the minutes thereof are recorded in the minutes book under himself and the Chairman of the meeting, and thereafter the GBC members present may sign.”
February 21, 1988
5. The GBC body approves the proposal for a full and final settlement of the M.M. De case for a maximum amount of 6 lakhs. The part of that amount that should have been paid to the son and daughter will be paid by the M.V.T. (approximately Rs. 3.5 lakhs.) according to Srila Prabhupada’s will.
6. That all temples and Trusts that had been put into jeopardy by the M.M. De case be responsible for raising the balance amount to repay the M.V.T. for the advanced amount.
7. That Prithu Prabhu be reconfirmed as acting GBC.
8. That Gaur Govinda Swami be reconfirmed as acting GBC.
9. That Guru Gauranga Prabhu be appointed as a full GBC.
10. That the remaining acting GBC’s appointed at the 1987 meeting be reconfirmed as acting GBC’s, namely: Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, Bhakti Caru Swami, Agrani Swami, Niranjana Swami, Hari Vilas Prabhu, SivaRama Swami, Yasomatinandan Prabhu, Ganapati Swami, Kavichandra Swami, Vrikodara Prabhu, Bhaktibhusana Swami, Danavira Prabhu, Guru Prasada Swami.
11. That Tosana Krsna Prabhu be appointed as an acting GBC member with no voting rights and shall be eligible for confirmation as a full GBC member at the 1990 General Meeting. (He is subject to reconsideration at the 1989 General Meeting.)
12. That Loka Saksi Prabhu and Paramgati Swami be appointed as assistant GBC members.
13. That Kirtiraja Prabhu be appointed as an acting GBC member with full voting rights, and shall be eligible for confirmation as a full GBC member at the 1990 General Meeting. (He is subject to reconsideration at the 1989 General Meeting.)
February 22, 1988
14. That Naveen Krsna Prabhu be recommended to the North American GBC to be a permanent member of that committee as North American Minister of Finance.
15. That Badrinarayan Prabhu be admitted as an assistant GBC for southern California.
16. That Jayapataka Swami be excused for 1/2 hour from being penalized for late attendance at all meetings in Mayapur. (Rule of Order)
17. Whereas, the GBC body has heard that Vasudeva Prabhu is considering submitting his resignation from the GBC body, it is resolved that Vasudeva Prabhu be encouraged to remain as GBC of Fiji at least until he completes the development of the temple project in Suva.
20. The GBC requests Vicitravirya Prabhu to take up the part-time service of Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. The GBC greatly appreciates the high quality of service he has already rendered for the Ministry and looks forward to his valuable contribution in the future.
February 23 1988
21. The GBC asks Abhiram Prabhu to take up service in Southern Florida as Regional Secretary under the GBC, Tamal Krsna Goswami. The GBC greatly appreciates his willingness to perform this service, looks forward to working closely with him and would like the pleasure of his association at all North American GBC committee meetings and at the annual GBC meeting at Mayapur.
22. When a person becomes a member of ISKCON or assumes an office within ISKCON, he does so on the condition of submission to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of ISKCON; and however much he may dissatisfied with the exercise of that jurisdiction, he shall refrain from invoking the supervisory power of the civil court but shall seek redress of any grievance(s) through the ISKCON judicial process. Otherwise, he may be removed from office and or his membership in ISKCON terminated.
23. The GBC sanctions the removal of the Deities from the Mexico city farm to Guadalajara and the selling of the farm, with the provision that the money be used for the purchase of the Mexico City temple.
24. Anyone holding ISKCON’s assets in his private name, in the name of another, or in the name of a corporate entity and controlled by himself or another shall provide an annual detailed confidential declaration of such assets and the reasons for the holding arrangements to his GBC representative. When the GBC representative holds such assets, he shall disclose the same information to the GBC body in the manner provided by it.
25. For any devotee connected with any ISKCON temple in North America to collect for the Hare Krsna Food for Life program, an “ISKCON Food for Life” program, or any other ongoing Hare Krsna free food-to-the-needy distribution program, the local temple president must first contact the North American Hare Krsna Food for life committee to obtain permission and establish conditions under which those devotees may collect for this free prasadam distribution program.
26. If it becomes known that anyone living outside a North American ISKCON temple is collecting in the name of the Hare Krsna Food for Life program, or any other ISKCON “Food-for-the-needy” program, without the express, written sanction of the temple president and local GBC representative (which sanction is contingent on permission from the North American Hare Krsna Food for Life committee), it is the duty of the local temple president and the local GBC representative to report this immediately to one another and to the North American Food for Life committee. It will then become the duty of the local temple authorities and the GBC representative for the area to stop this illegal representation of the Hare Krsna Food for Life program. If they cannot stop this illegal activity, they must report this problem to the North American Hare Krsna Food for Life committee. If the committee then determines that the temple president and/or local GBC representative for the area must utilize criminal prosecution to stop the illegal collector, he/they must do so.
27. No ISKCON member, including GBC members, may make public statements on ISKCON’s position or policy on major issues affecting ISKCON’s image or policies across an entire nation or groups of nations, unless such a policy or position has already been established and is available in written form or unless the devotee wishing to make such a statement does so with permission from either the GBC executive officers or the Minister of Public Affairs. Further, neither the Minister of Public Affairs nor the GBC executive officers may grant such permission without consulting first with one another.
28. That Hrdayananda das Goswami shall deliver the master copy of the report cards prepared by the 50-man committee convened in 1987 to the Corresponding Secretary. They shall be kept strictly confidential and be brought to Mayapur 1989 for dispensation.
30. That the March, 1987 resolutions # 86, section D, pertaining to Guru removal, be modified to read: “Removal. If the Guru becomes openly inimical to Srila Prabhupada or ISKCON, or otherwise acts demoniacally; or becomes an impersonalist (mayavadi) or who preaches the philosophy of unauthorized or asampradaya against Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s principles: or blatently and consistently defies ISKCON and GBC policies: or when one’s attachment to sense gratification is serious, prolonged or hopeless, as per sastric injunctions, he shall be removed from his position as initiating guru.”
31. The suspension of Bhagavan das, Bhavananda das, and Ramesvara das as ISKCON Gurus be continued.
32. That the North American Hare Krsna Food for Life Committee consist of Mukunda Goswami, Balavanta das, Rupa Monohar and Adi Raja das.
February 24, 1988
33. In the event that the Belgian bank or other creditors force the sale of New Mayapur, the GBC reluctantly approves the moving of the New Mayapur Deities to a more suitable location.
34. That the GBC gives Agrani Maharaja permission to approach the GBC body by correspondence proposal to move the Deities installed in Berbice, Guyana, to a more suitable location.
35. That, should the local GBC for an ISKCON building with installed Deities propose to sell such property, and/or move the Deities, he must first approach the Executive Committee, who shall appoint a 3-man committee to investigate the situation and prepare or certify a comprehensive report with their recommendation for or against the proposal. If the 3-man committee finds that the proposal is acceptable, then the entire GBC body may be approached either at its annual meeting or by correspondence resolution, for approval of the plan. If the 3-man committee recommends against the sale of the property and/or relocation of the Deity, then the Executive Committee shall be empowered to take whatever steps are necessary in collaboration with the 3-man committee, to save the property, including appointing an ad-hoc co-GBC. [Provisional Order]
36. That a committee consisting of Guru Gauranga das, Tosan Krsna das and Gopal Krsna Goswami be formed to recommend to the GBC guidelines for the proper functioning of the Executive Committee.
37. That the various issues regarding Mayapur be referred to the Indian GBC sub-committee for consideration.
39. Since the BBT meeting on July 15 & 16, 1987 in Stockholm had an ambiguous and undefinitive outcome, the GBC wishes the BBT to reconstitute itself. The present trustees, Harikesh Swami, Gopal Krsna Goswami, Tamal Krsna Goswami, Hrdayananda das Goswami and Jayapataka Swami, have voted to request the GBC to give them definitive guidance for reconsideration. Accordingly, the GBC asks that Jayapataka Swami, Hrdayananda das Goswami and Tamal Krsna Goswami to submit their resignations as International Trustees. However, before any resignations are accepted, the current trustees elect replacements and additions up to a total of seven, and place these names before the GBC for its blessings.
40. That the GBC direct its members, Indian and all other BBT trustees and management to follow the directives of the International BBT trustees regarding matters of International BBT concerns, such as the securing of copyrights to Srila Prabhupada’s books.
41. That the GBC hereby creates the post of “Global Minister of Sannyasa Services.” The minister shall be a male ISKCON male member appointed by the GBC for renewable terms of one year. The duties of the Minister should be as follows:
i) To help ISKCON sannyasis in all respects.
ii) To help the GBC and the sannyasis of ISKCON maintain within ISKCON the sanctity of the sannyasa order.
iii) To help the GBC make sure the sannyasis in ISKCON keep a high standard in performing their prescribed duties.
iv) To help ISKCON better deploy sannyasis for preaching.
v) To help the GBC deal with rumors or complaints about Sannyasa.
vi) To help sannyasis having spiritual troubles.
vii) To help the GBC make decisions about sannyasa and sannyasis from time to time.
42. That Jayadvaita Swami be appointed ISKCON Global Minister of sannyasis.
February 25, 1988
43. That the GBC gives its blessings to the plan conceived of by the current International BBT trustees to replace the three resigning trustees with Sesa das, Isvara Swami and Naresvara das under the condition that when they decide to add two additional trustees they again seek the blessings of the GBC body at the annual meeting for these additional names.
44. That the press release issued in April 1987 by the GBC has always been and remains the authorized GBC position on Kirtanananda Swami.
45. That New Vrndavan and its satellite temples and centers in Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Pittsburgh and Morgantown, and any other cities such as Washington, New York and Philadelphia, are not officially associated with ISKCON, as they are not following the GBC directives of 1987 re Kirtanananda Swami. Furthermore, these temples and the devotees there are hereby enjoined from using the name ISKCON, The Hare Krsna movement, International Society for Krsna Consciousness. The devotees at these temples are encouraged to reestablish their connection with ISKCON, for which purpose they may contact the GBC Executive Committee.
46. That an ISKCON Publication Review Board be established to review books and publications, and publish statements concerning the value of the books and publications for ISKCON devotees, especially with reference to their conformity to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
47. That the ISKCON Publication Review Board consists of Ravindra Svarupa das, Hrdayananda das Goswami, Satsvarupa das Goswami, Tamal Krsna Goswami, Jagadish Goswami, Jayadvaita Swami, Garuda das, Gour Govinda Swami, Sadaputa das and Bhakti Caru Swami.
48. That Garuda das be appointed Minister of Vaisnava Cultural History. The precise scope and functions of this ministry shall be defined in the course of the coming year and submitted for approval of the GBC, either by correspondence procedure, or at the 1989 general meeting.
49. That the GBC body feels that in the case of the sale of the Greater Kailash Temple in Delhi, Gopal Krsna Maharaja did not follow proper procedures; nor did he consult with the GBC sufficiently in his interpretation of Srila Prabhupada’s will. However, the GBC body also feels that he was acting in good faith to render important service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. We, therefore, give our blessings to this exceptional transaction. Be it known, however, that no precedent has been established by this procedural anomaly and unconfirmed interpretation of Srila Prabhupada’s will.
50. That the Radha Parathasarathi Deities of the Delhi temple maybe moved to the proposed new location only after the Indian GBC sub-committee has inspected the new facilities and given their approval.
51. That the current members of the Executors Committee are to be as follows: Jayapataka Swami, Gopal Krsna Goswami, Giriraja Swami, Guru Gauranga das, Lokasaksi das, Toshan Krsna das, Naresvara das and Kirtiraja das.
52. That Guru Gauranga prabhu be appointed as chairman of the Executors Committee.
53. That the GBC accepts the Yoga Pitha Gaudiya Panjika calendar as authoritative for ISKCON on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is also Srila Prabhupada’s instructions that the Panjika be followed in any time zone of the world according to the same Calendar date as observed in Mayapur. Bhakti Caru Swami shall secure and certify an official translation. [Provisional Order]
54. That the following devotees are appointed to research on the basis of guru, sadhu and sastra unresolved questions concerning the Guru: Jayadvaita Swami, Bhaktividya Purna Swami, Atmatattva das, Virabahu das, Gour Govinda Swami, Bhakti Caru Swami, Gopiparanadhana das, and the Minister of Vaisnava Cultural History. Bhakti Caru Swami is appointed to coordinate the research work.
February 26, 1988
55. That the following proposal be adopted as a Rule of Order:
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A GBC may be granted a leave of absence only at his own request for any of the following reasons.
a. acute and unremitting health problem(s);
b. compelling personal reasons;
The member seeking a leave of absence shall clearly explain in writing to the GBC Body at the Annual General Meeting the specific reasons for his request. If granted, the leave of absence shall not exceed a period of one year at a time. A majority vote, quorum being present, is required to adopt a motion to grant a leave of absence. The member making the request may take full part in the discussion and vote on the motion. Although a member may be eligible for a leave of absence, it shall not make redundant or inhibit a motion to censure, suspend or remove.
RESIGNATION
A GBC member may tender his resignation at any time. However, it must be tendered in writing to be valid. A resignation tendered during the year shall be accepted by the GBC Executive Committee on a provisional basis pending final action by the GBC Body at the next annual or extraordinary general meeting. A member whose letter of resignation has been received by the Executive Committee may not subsequently withdraw it. A majority vote of the GBC Body, quorum being present, is required for final acceptance of a resignation. The member who has tendered his resignation may take full part in the discussion and the ensuing vote. A resignation which is voted accepted takes effect immediately, unless it is otherwise provided at the time.
CENSURE
A GBC member may be censured for any of the following transgressions during his tenure of office:
I. Misconduct and indiscipline
a. Violation of GBC resolutions
b. Vilification of ISKCON or the GBC Body
c. Misconduct in office
d. Habitually or knowingly making false charges and accusations
e. Disorderly conduct at meetings
f. Duplicitous or offensive behavior
g. Unexcused absence at GBC meetings (e.g. late arrival or departure before adjournment)
h. Failure to submit the prescribed annual report (requiring compulsory censure)
i. Failure to complete prescribed committee assignments
j. Failure to respond to or vote on correspondence proposals (requiring compulsory censure)
k. Any conduct unbecoming a member of the GBC Body
II. Improper discharge of duty
a. Neglect of duty
b. Misuse of funds
c. Gross mismanagement
III. Spiritual discrepancy
a. Failure to follow strictly the rules and regulations in Srila Prabhupada’s books
b. Philosophical deviation
c. Consistently irregular attendance at the temple morning program
d. Neglect of adequate Krsna Conscious measures to stem notoriety for deficient japa.
The Body itself shall have the power to censure in all instances where the transgression takes place during the course of a GBC meeting. In other instances, the GBC Judicial Committee shall also have the power to censure. Censure expresses the disapprobation of the GBC body, whether noted by the Body itself or by the GBC Judicial Committee. A vote of censure is to be understood as a reprimand aimed at reformation of the member and prevention of further offending acts. It is the warning voice of suspension or removal. A motion to censure shall require a majority vote of the GBC Body. Censure by the GBC Judicial Committee shall require a majority vote by the Committee, all committee members being present. The supposed offender himself may not note on the motion. If the motion to censure is adopted, it shall be entered into the GBC Minute Book. Furthermore, the chairman will strongly impress upon the offender the meaning of a censure note somehow thus:
“______________ Maharaja/Prabhu, you have been censured by vote of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (or the GBC Judicial Committee) for the
reasons contained in the resolution. A censure expresses the Body’s disapproval of your conduct. A censure is a warning. It is the warning voice of suspension
or removal. Please take due notice thereof and govern yourself accordingly.”
A member who has been censured three times shall be placed on probation. If, during a period of three years, no motion to censure is
adopted against a member, then his slate of censures is wiped clean.
PROBATION
A member censured three times shall be placed on probation by the body having voted the third censure. That body shall also assign the offending member a specific program of rectification for the period of his probation. However, any measure that substantially impedes a member from acting as a GBC member shall require the approval of the GBC Body. Any other probationary measures shall also be within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee. Such measures may include one or more of the following:
– Assignment to Padayatra
– Prabhupada Samadhi or Dhama seva
– Curtailment of speaking and/or voting privilege in GBC meetings
– Adjustment or change of service (This list of measures shall not be construed as being exhaustive.)
The period of probation shall not exceed one year.
SUSPENSION
The Body may suspend a member when there is sufficient reason to believe that:
a. continuation of his status as a member in good standing is injurious to ISKCON or its good name;
b. he has committed any noxious or reprehensible acts.
The GBC Body must consider the suspension of a member for violation of the terms of his probation or for any further misbehavior while on probation.The GBC Judicial Committee may also suspend a member in the following extreme cases, but that suspension shall be reviewed by the Body at the next General Meeting:
a. inimical acts to ISKCON
b. gross deviation
c. extreme emergencies
A majority vote of the GBC Body, quorum being present, or a 2/3 vote of the GBC Judicial Committee, all committee members being present, shall be required to adopt a motion to suspend. The supposed offender shall have a right to participate in discussion about the charges brought against him. However, he himself may not vote on the motion to suspend. The period of suspension shall not exceed one year. The terms applying to a suspended member for the duration of his period of suspension shall be as follows:
a. He may not attend GBC meetings at any time.
b. He may not vote as a GBC member.
c. He may not exercise GBC functions of any kind.
d. He must be assigned a specific program of rectification.
The rectification of a suspended member shall be a primary concern of the GBC Body and/or the GBC Judicial committee. As a result, the suspending body shall assign the offending member a specific program of rectification for the duration of the period of suspension. The assigned program of rectification shall be understood as an opportunity for the suspended member to redress himself and to regain his status as a member in good standing. The GBC Body (or the GBC Judicial Committee if it is the suspending body) shall appoint a subcommittee to carefully monitor the progress of the member throughout his period of suspension. This subcommittee shall submit quarterly progress reports to the GBC Judicial Committee. At the end of the period of suspension the GBC Body shall carefully consider the case of the suspended member. Deeming the offending member rectified, the GBC Body shall vote to reinstate him as a member in good standing. Deeming that he has been unable to rectify himself, the Body shall give serious consideration to his removal.
REMOVAL
A member shall be removed from the GBC Body for any of the following transgressions during his tenure of office:
a. Violation of any of the four regulative principles
b. Persistent neglect to complete 16 rounds of japa daily.
A member may also be removed in the event that:
a. He has been suspended at least two times
b. The Body does not deem a suspended member rectified upon expiration of his period of suspension
c. He has committed any particularly noxious or reprehensible acts for which rectification is most unlikely.
A resolution to remove may only be adopted by the GBC at the Annual General meeting, or at an extraordinary general meeting. The GBC Body will give special consideration to any recommendation made by the GBC Judicial Committee. Where removal is explicitly prescribed by GBC resolution, the Body, out of consideration for the offending member, may request him to resign before a formal vote to remove is taken. If the member resigns immediately, the Body may accept it and dispense with a formal vote to remove. In the event that the offending member refuses to tender his resignation immediately, he shall be removed. In all cases where removal is explicitly prescribed by GBC resolution, the Body shall have no recourse save and except to remove the offending member. A 2/3 vote, quorum being present, is required to adopt a motion to remove. The supposed offender shall have the right to participate in the discussion about the charges brought against him. However, he himself may not vote on the motion to remove. The rectification of a [former] GBC member shall be a major concern of the Body. However, the process of rectification shall not postpone, replace, or inhibit removal, as rectification is not contingent on GBC membership. The GBC Body reserves the right to final review of any disciplinary cases. [N.B. if adopted, the above proposal shall repeal any conflicting resolutions previously adopted.]
57. That a grhastha or vanaprastha should not take the sannyasa order, unless:
a. the wife is in agreement by writing, and all necessary legal separation papers are provided whenever possible
b. All of the daughters are married or financially independent or of legal majority age;
c. The sons are self-supporting, or of majority age, and the father has no further legal responsibility
d. He has arranged financial support for the wife if there are no grown sons or sons-in-law who have agreed to provide support; and
e. He agrees that, in principle, ISKCON is not responsible for such support or arrangements.
That a brahmacari be considered for sannyasa only if he has actually strictly followed his vows for at least ten years and is at least forty years old. In exceptional cases, a man may be awarded sannyasa before the age of forty by a 2/3 majority vote of the GBC Body. To take sannyasa at the age of 50, one must have been on a waiting list for two years; at 45, three years; at 40, four years, and at 35, five years.
February 27, 1988
59. That the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust is recommended to replace Bhavananda das with Sivarama Swami as a trustee.
60. That the 1988 GBC Executive Budget Assessment shall be $100 per member.
61. That the following Provisional Orders be retired: 1987 — #24, 30, 34, 40, 42, 50, 74, 92 1986 — #6, 8, 16, 38, 60, 65
62. That there is a moratorium on all “pre-initiation” or preliminary initiation ceremonies until the GBC decides by vote on the legitimacy of such procedures. This may be conducted by Correspondence Resolution.
63. That Jayapataka Swami spend seven months of the next year in Bengal and Assam, and he should not travel outside his own GBC zone of responsibility.
72. That the four devotees present who were part of the former International BBT (Tamal Krsna Goswami, Gopal Krsna Goswami, Jayapataka Swami and Hrdayananda das Goswami) shall be requested to recommend an additional two persons to be part of the newly constituted International BBT. This resolution modifies Resolution #43 above.
73. That the local BBT’s are requested to withhold transfer of copyrights to an International BBT, as under resolution #40 above, until a proper constitution and by-laws have been accepted by the GBC. The GBC Body appoints a committee of Gopal Krsna Goswami, Jayadwaita Swami, Hari Vilas, Sesa, Bhima and Sri Rama to study the issues involved and recommend a constitution and by-laws to the GBC body through correspondence vote.
74. That the GBC Body gives its blessings to Jayadwaita Swami and Hari Vilas das to be added to the International BBT Trustees, as per the recommendation of the four-man committee mentioned in Resolution #72 above.
75. That the GBC accepts the resignation of Jagadish Goswami as Minister of Education. The Ministry of Education is herewith dissolved and replaced by the ISKCON Board of Education. The ISKCON Board of Education is a GBC standing committee dealing with primary and secondary education in ISKCON, composed of GBC and non-GBC members. The Board will formulate and execute concrete plans which shall enable it to effectively insure the quality of Krsna conscious primary and secondary education throughout ISKCON. Each member of the ISKCON Board of Education shall have responsibility for specific duties and shall make specific commitments for which he shall be held accountable. The yearly GBC Chairman shall also serve as a member of the ISKCON Board of Education. The ISKCON Board of Education shall continue to maintain the activities of the former Ministry of Education. It shall, in addition, establish and maintain a cultural administrative office. The entire Board of Education shall meet together no less than three times a year. [Prov. Order]
76. The members of the ISKCON Board of Education are: Tosan Krsna das, Chairman; Jagadish Goswami, Sivarama Swami, Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, Ravindra Swarup das, Bhurijana das, Vrikodara das, Kirtiraj das, Sri Rama das, Dhanvantari Swami, Vrisha das.
77. Each GBC Zonal Secretary shall collect an educational tax of $200 from the grhasthas in his zone, and remit to the Board of Education, by June 1, 1988.
78. The zonal assignments for 1988-89 are as follows:
Agrani Swami: GBC — Caribbean, Bermuda
Badrinarayan das: Assistant GBC to Ganapati Swami and Hari Vilas das for Los Angeles
Assistant GBC to Ganapati Swami for Southern California
Balavanta das: Minister of Legal Affairs
Bhakti Bhusana Goswami: GBC: Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami — Chile
Bhakti Caru Swami – GBC: Belgium and Luxembourg
co-GBC with Jayapataka Swami — Calcutta
co-GBC with Prithu-Ireland and Northern Ireland
co-GBC with Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami-France
Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami: GBC, Manipur
co-GBC with Prithu-Andhra Pradesh
co-GBC w/Jayapataka Swami–Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Assam,Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya
co-GBC w/Prabhuvisnu Swami–Burma
co-GBC w/Giriraj Swami–Sri Lanka
co-GBC w/Hari Vilas–Bay area (USA)
co-GBC w/Gopal Krsna G.–Bombay, Kuruksetra
co-GBC w/Bhakti Caru S.–France
Bhaktitirtha Swami: GBC–Central Africa, Northwestern Africa
co-GBC w/Gopal Krsna G.–Kenya
co-GBC w/Hari Vilas–North Africa
Danavir das: GBC–Holland, Israel, Greece, Cyprus
Ganapati Swami: GBC–St. Louis, Denver/Boulder, Salt Lake City,
Festival of India, Phoenix, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas
co-GBC w/Yasomatinandana das–Chicago
co-GBC w/Hari Vilas, assisted by Badrinarayan, for Los Angeles
GBC, assisted by Badrinarayan–Southern California
Gaur Govinda Swami: co-GBC w/Jayapataka Swami for Orissa
Giriraj Swami: GBC–South Africa, Mauritius, Pakistan
co-GBC w/Bhakti Swarup Damodara S.–Sri Lanka
co-GBC w/Jagadish G.–Spain, Portugal
Guru Gauranga das: Minister of Justice
Guru Prasad Swami: GBC–Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Central America, Mexico
Gopal Krsna Goswami: GBC–Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, Kashmir
co-GBC w/Prabhavisnu S–East Uttar Pradesh
co-GBC w/Jagadish G.-Vrindaban, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh
co-GBC w/Niranjana S.–Montreal
co-GBC w/Bhakti Tirtha Swami for Kenya
Harikesa Swami: GBC–East Germany, W. Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Yugoslavia, Lichtenstein
co-GBC w/Jayapataka S.–Mayapur
Hari Vilas das: co-GBC w/Bhaktiswarup Damodar S.–Bay Area
GBC: Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, North and South Yemen, Afghanistan
co-GBC w/Jagadish G.–Seattle, Vancouver
co-GBC w/Prthu–Hardwar and Risikesh
co-GBC w/Ganapati S. and Badrinarayan (asst)–Los Angeles
Hrdayananda das Goswami: GBC-Northeastern Brazil, Northern Florida
co-GBC w/Jagadish G.–Italy
GBC, assisted by Loka Saksi das and Paramgacchit S. for
Central and Southern Brazil
Jagadisa Goswami: co-GBC w/Niranjana S. for Ottawa and Toronto
co-GBC w/Giriraj S. for Spain
co-GBC w/Hrdayananda G. for Italy
co-GBC w. Gopal Krsna G. for Vrindaban, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
co-GBC w/Hari Vilas for Vancouver farm, Seattle, Vancouver
Jayapataka Swami: GBC–Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Maldives, Bhutan, Andaman, Nicobar Islands
co-GBC w/Bhakti Bhusana S.–Chile
co-GBC w/ Prabhavisnu S.–Bihar, Sikkim, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Tamil Nadu
co-GBC w/Kavicandra S.–Thailand
co-GBC w/Harikesa S.–Mayapur
co-GBC w/Vrikodar–New Talavan, New Orleans, Murari Sevak, Atlanta, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Smokey Mountains
co-GBC w/Bhakti Caru Swami:Calcutta
Kavicandra Swami: GBC–Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Hawaii
co-GBC w/Jayapataka S.–Thailand
Kirtiraja das: GBC–USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Albania
co-GBC w/Sivarama S.–Hungary, Czechoslovakia
Lokasaksi das: co-assistant GBC with Paramgacchit S. to
Hrdayananda G. for Central and Southern Brazil
Mukunda Goswami: GBC for ILMT
Minister for Public Affairs
Niranjana Swami: GBC–New England
co-GBC w/Gopal Krsna G.–Montreal
co-GBC w/Jagadisa G..–Toronto and Ottawa
Paramgati Swami.: co-assistant GBC w/Loka Sakshi to Hrdayananda Goswami for Central and Southern Brazil
Prabhavisnu Swami: GBC–Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Papua, New Guinea
co-GBC w/Bhaktisvarup Damodar S.–Burma
co-GBC w/Jayapataka S.–Bihar, Sikkim, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tamil Nadu
co-GBC w/Gopal Krsna G.–Eastern Uttar
Pradesh, including Allahabad, Faizabad,
Bakraid, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Rae Boerreli, Bara Banki
Prthu das: co-GBC w/Bhaktisvarup Damodar Swami–Andhra Pradesh
co-GBC w/Bhakti Caru S.–Ireland and Northern Ireland
co-GBC w/Hari Vilas–Hardwar and Risikesh
Ravindra Svarupa das: GBC — Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware
Rupanuga das: GBC–Baltimore, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia
co-GBC w/Vrkodar for Tennessee (w/Murari Sevak)
Sivarama Swami: GBC–England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands
co-GBC w/Kirtiraj–Hungary, Czechoslovakia
Tamal Krsna Goswami: GBC–Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia
co-GBC w/ Vasudeva das–Polynesia
Tosan Krsna das: GBC–New York and New Jersey
Vasudeva das: GBC–Fiji
co-GBC w/Tamal Krsna G.–Polynesia
Vrkodara das: co-GBC w/Jayapataka S.–New Talavan, New Orleans, Murari Sevak, Atlanta, North & South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Smokey Mountains
co-GBC w/Rupanuga–Tennessee
Yasomatinanda das: GBC–Gujarat
co-GBC w/Gopal Krsna G.–Kenya
co-GBC w/Ganapati S.–Chicago
79. Whereas, beyond the funds already in hand, the Vrindaban Samadhi Construction Fund requires Rs. 35 Lakh, and to guarantee the Vrindaban Samadhi’s timely completion, the GBC resolves that the 1987 GBC resolution requiring various temples to provide specified funds to the Vrindaban Samadhi Construction Fund be reaffirmed as the principal fund raising method and be continued. All temples in default of the aforestated 1987 resolution are directed to immediately remit the balance. The local GBC men are to take responsibility to take the relevant information regarding back payments from Nareswara das, and will inform their temple presidents to ensure compliance. However, if from March 1, 1988 to July 1, 1988, less than Rs. 16 Lakh has been received by the Vrindaban Samadhi Construction Fund from the ISKCON temples, the difference is to be immediately loaned (within ten days) to the Vrindaban Samadhi Construction Fund by either the International BBT Mayapur Land Purchase Fund, or, if in the case that the International BBT Trustees are unwilling to do so, then Ambarish das shall be approached for permission that the requisite money from his donation be transferred as a loan from the Mayapur Samadhi Construction Fund. In either case, the loan is to be repaid by the ISKCON temples according to the payment plan outlined by GBC Resolution. This same procedure is to be repeated for an additional Rs. 16 Lakh, to be received no later than December 1, 1988. Thus, the Vrindaban Samadhi Construction Fund is guaranteed to receive no less than Rs. 32 lakh, by December 1, 1988.
This resolution in no way absolves the temples of their financial responsibility in case loans are taken. Each GBC member will take it as his personal responsibility to see to it that the temples in their zone completely comply with this resolution. It is the solemn responsibility of each temple to fulfil it. Compliance to the above resolution on a temple and zonal level will be reviewed at the 1989 GBC meeting.
80. In pursuance of Resolution #79, the GBC requests Brahmatirtha das to enthusiastically take on the responsibility of overseeing the successful collection of funds from all the temples in North America.
February 28, 1988
81. That a proposal to the GBC Body shall be considered as a “Correspondence Proposal” if it meets one of the following requirements:
1. It was duly submitted before the annual general meeting within the prescribed time limit via corresponding secretary but was not brought to vote at the annual general meeting.
2. It was presented at the annual general meeting by the Chairman, but a majority of the voting members present voted that it be handled as a correspondence proposal.
3. It was recommended in writing to the Executive Committee by any three GBC men. Such correspondence proposals shall be handled as follows: The Executive Committee shall take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the proposal is presented initially to the body in a form which allows the individual GBC members to easily gain a clear understanding of the pertinent issues inherent in the proposal, including but not limited to:
a. Returning the proposal to the proposer(s) for reformulation and preparation of additional documentation.
b. With the consent of the proposer(s), appointing a committee to study the issue and prepare a report
c. Asking other GBC men to present opposing viewpoints. When the proposal is in a presentable form, it shall be sent out to the members together with a form on which comments must be entered and returned to the Corresponding Secretary.
After 60 days from the mailing of the proposals for comments, the Executive Committee may do one of the following:
a. Send the original proposal for a vote, including copies of all comments received
b. Send a modified proposal for a vote, including copies of all comments received
c. Send out copies of all comments with perhaps a suggested modified proposal, and ask for a straw vote, in which case another sixty day waiting period for comments begins, or
d. Table the issue until the next annual meeting.
[Sections b,c,d shall be taken only with the consent of the original proposer(s)]
When the Executive Committee decides that a vote is warranted on the proposal, it should be sent out with an official ballot form providing for votes in favor, opposed, or abstaining, and allowing for additional comments. Sixty days shall be allowed for the return of ballots. If the proposal requires a majority vote to pass, then if two-thirds of the active voting members have returned their ballots as of sixty days from the date of the mailing of the ballots, then the vote shall be considered final and binding as of that day, regardless if additional ballots are received after the 60 day period. If the proposal requires a two-thirds vote to pass, then if eighty percent of the active voting members have returned their ballots as of 60 days from the date of mailing of the ballots, then the vote shall be considered final and binding as of that day, regardless if additional ballots are received after the 60-day period.
If, in either of the above cases, the requisite number of ballots are not returned within the 60 days, but additional ballots are received to complete the requisite number within ninety days of the mailing of the ballots, then the vote shall be considered final and binding as of the day of receipt of the requisite number of ballots. If the requisite number of ballots are not received within 90 days, then the entire vote is to be considered void and may or may not be reconsidered for additional discussion and voting through further correspondence, or at the next Annual Meeting, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Votes which are final and binding shall be counted and assessed according to the same rules as if the ballots received by that date were individual GBC men present at a general meeting. If the vote is inconclusive, due to abstentions being cast, then it must be reconsidered for additional discussion and voting through either further correspondence or at the next general meeting, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
If a proposal passes, then it becomes effective on the day that the vote is final and binding. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep detailed records of those ballots not received within the 60 day period. Excuses for submission of ballots after 60 days should be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee for decision. A GBC man is not to be excused for late submission of ballots by merely contending that he did not receive the ballot on time to vote, due to his travel schedule. Additional official addresses are recommended to prevent this situation. Correspondence proposals which are passed need not be validated at the next annual general meeting, but the Chairman of the GBC, after convening the next annual general meeting and before electing officers for the new year, quorum being present, shall cause the approved correspondence resolution for the year to be read. At this time, any objections may be raised as to proper procedures being used in the correspondence resolution process. Any unresolved objections must be referred to the Judicial Committee for a decision. If there are no unresolved objections, then the approved correspondence resolutions shall be recorded in the minute book.
82. That the GBC shall prepare a position paper explaining 1987 resolution #66-68 concerning re-initiation. Devotees who are in doubt about re-initiation should wait until they have read this paper. The paper shall be prepared by Bhakti Caru Maharaj and the research committee by Mayapur, 1989.
83. That Gaur Kesava das be officially added to the researchers on Guru Issues.
84. That it is recommended that traveling preachers be sensitive to the concerns of the local authorities in a zone or a temple, and that, as far as possible, they inform the local GBC’s and authorities about their schedule before their arrivals in a zone or temple.
86. That temple presidents are recommended to encourage some devotees in their temples to participate in the upcoming KumbhaMela festival in January, 1989. The 100th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada in 1996 should be publicized during this festival.
87. That it is recommended that all ISKCON members should, as much as possible, distribute Prabhupada’s books and particularly to participate in the Srila Prabhupada Marathon. A proper standard would be to go on book distribution at least once a week.
88. That rules of order #50 from the 1986 GBC meeting be superceded to read as follows: Those eligible to attend and vote in the “ISKCON Manager’s Meeting” are as follows:
1) The president of any authorized temple or preaching center listed in BACK TO GODHEAD or any other official Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publication. Any center that cannot officially publish its address can get authorization from the GBC chairman). If a President cannot personally attend, he can authorize in writing a representative to attend.
2) Regional secretaries.
3) As the request of the body, guests may be invited as observers to participate in the meeting.
4) Head-masters of Gurukulas with more than 50 students, and non-GBC global ministers.
89. That the rule of order #97 of 1987 be changed from unanimous to two-thirds.
90. That resolution #73 from the 1988 GBC meeting is repealed and is replaced with the following:
That the local BBT’s are requested to withhold transfers of copyrights as under resolution #40 above, until a proper constitution and by-laws have been accepted by the Executive Committee on behalf of the GBC. The Executive Committee may refer all or part of the subject matter to the GBC body for decision.