The Official Website of the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The Official Website of the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
What is the GBC?
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), established the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to be the ultimate managing authority for the society. In ISKCON’s Direction of Management written on July 28, 1970, Srila Prabhupada states:
As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of temple management, propaganda for Krishna consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard.
Srila Prabhupada reaffirmed the position of the GBC in his final will drafted in June, 1977:
The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Through legal documents, training, and discourse, Srila Prabhupada clearly identified the GBC as the highest managerial body in ISKCON.
At present, the GBC body is comprised of thirty-four members who are individually responsible for overseeing the management and spiritual standards of ISKCON centers in assigned geographic regions. GBC members also supervise specific projects, initiatives, and ministries. Following the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, the GBC body convenes yearly in Mayapur, West Bengal for their Annual General Meeting, during which time they discuss proposals, specific issues and projects within ISKCON, and pass resolutions by way of a voting process.
Hare Krishna, On Srila Prabhupada's 127th Vyasa-puja, please take the opportunity to download and read the 2023 Vyasa-puja book which was created from hearfelt homages of devotees. gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/spvp2023.pdfThis latest version has some updates and fixes also.Please also share the file widely so all followers of Srila Prabhupada can avail of this shower of nectar in glorification of His Divine Grace.Hare Krishna. ... See MoreSee Less
ISKCON Ministry of Education Appoints a New Director The ISKCON Ministry of Education recently released the news that Satya Medha Gauranga Das, a disciple of Jayapataka Swami based in the United Kingdom, shall join the ISKCON Ministry of Education as a Director. The special news was shared by Tapan Misra Das, Minister, Ministry of Education who mentioned that Satya Medha Guaranga Das shall support the Ministry of Education to fulfil its vision and mission. He is fully committed to utilising his experience and skills in expanding the Ministry. Tapan Misra Das requested all ISKCON leaders around the world to offer their support to Satya Medha Gauranga Das. Satya Medha Gauranga Das, who shall assume office from 1 April 2023 onwards, mentioned "I consider it a privilege to be able to serve the Ministry that was personally established by Srila Prabhupada. Along with members of the Ministry, I shall strive to utilise all the resources and innovations we have to revolutionise education in ISKCON, to enable each leader to bring a change in life of every ISKCON devotee who can preach more effectively, being certified and having a solid foundation in understanding Srila Prabhupada books and change the lives of millions of people on this planet. I seek prayers of the devotees that I am able to assist in expanding the Ministry."Satya Medha Gauranga Das has worked with the UK Department for Education, BBC, Prince’s Responsible Business Network, Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Office. He also joined various initiatives with Microsoft and Google. For the last five years, he has been serving as one of the Governors in educational institutes in the North-East of UK and last year he was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors.Tapan Mishra Das with support of dedicated and competent devotees aims to make Srila Prabhupada’s books the most widely read spiritual books on the planet. Hare Krishna ... See MoreSee Less
Dear Devotees,Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.In pursuance of our commitment to dealing robustly with child protection, inDecember 2022, the GBC Body authorized an independent review of thegovernance and leadership in the Mayapur and Vrindavan gurukulas. The report was submitted to us in February, and since then, we have met the review team members to discuss their findings. We now share this report with you in itsoriginal and complete form.The report is candid in its critique of our governance and leadership at school, regional and international levels. We are making this report public in the spirit of transparency and to reassure devotees that we are treating this matter very seriously.We will now be working diligently with the review team and others to coordinate the specifics of what will constitute "Phase Two" and move matters forward with the implementation of the report recommendations. We do not yet have a defined timescale for Phase Two, but we expect that the entire process will be delivered by the March 2024 GBC Annual General Meeting in Sridham Mayapur. We recognize that devotees around the world will be keen to be kept informed as matters proceed, and we will endeavor to provide updates whenever practical.Hare Krsna,Your servants,Revati Raman DasGuru Prasad SwamiTapana Misra Das,GBC Executive Committee ... See MoreSee Less
Child Protection Professionals Conduct Training for GBC Members During GBC AGMThe GBC dedicated the majority of the final day of its last day of their five-day annual meetings to Child Protection training for its members. Professional experts in the area of Child Protection, namely, Dr. K.P. Asha Mukundan and Nitai Joseph, made presentations to the GBC followed by valuable input and suggestions for improvising child abuse awareness and screening systems by Kamlesh Krishna Das, Director, CPO Global. The first presentation was offered by Dr K.P. Asha Mukundan, Asst. Professor, TISS and Chairperson, Centre for Criminology and Justice at the School of Social Work, Mumbai. She explained the concept of Child Protection from the perspective of child abuse, child neglect, child exploitation and violence against children. She shared slides on Rights of Children, ways to uphold trust of children in parents, leaders, etc, institutional liability of an organisation in relation to child abuse and child labor and the need for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. The presentation was well received and was followed by questions.The second presenter was Nitai Joseph, a full time Program and Research Manager for a child abuse prevention non-profit based in Washington, DC. He joined the meeting as a child abuse prevention specialist who also has understanding of ISKCON and its unique needs. Nitai Joseph provided an in-depth presentation and analysis on topics such as complex trauma and addressing child abuse in ISKCON, betrayal blindness and institutional betrayal, the impact of developmental abuse, difference between trauma and complex trauma, and the myths and realities in relation to child sexual abuse. Kamlesh Krishna Das, Director - Child Protection Office, spoke on the impact of child sexual abuse and the need for awareness, prevention, and training at all levels within ISKCON.He stressed the need to have effective screening systems in place at all ISKCON centers and reminded the leaders of the existing requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse.The GBC members expressed their gratitude to all the Child Protection experts for their relevant presentations on Child Protection and insightful presentations and valuable input on how ISKCON can protect its children and communities.Hare Krishna ... See MoreSee Less
