Report by the GBC from the 1998 meetings

[Guest guest]

Dear ISKCON devotees,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

This year the overall mood of the GBC meetings was positive and optimistic.

Under the guidance of the Chairman, Madhusevita prabhu, the meetings were

streamlined, so there was opportunity for congenial association, such as

going together to bathe in the Ganges. However, at the same time important

topics were discussed and significant decisions made.

 

The performance of the GBC members was appraised, the way in which the GBC

Body functions was revised, a comprehensive plan for child protection was

put into action, and a proposal for ongoing discussions on guru tattva was

approved.

 

The idea of appraising the work of the GBC members was envisaged by the

Executive Committee during the course of last year. The process was carried

out by a team consisting of the GBC Deputies and a group of non-GBC

disciples of Srila Prabhupada who produced reports consisting of comments

and recommendations for each GBC member. These were then discussed with the

GBCs, and in consultation with them final recommendations were submitted to

the Body for approval.

 

Srila Prabhupada stressed four main functions he wanted his GBC Secretaries

to carry out. He wanted them to be siksa gurus for all the members of

ISKCON. He wanted them to provide leadership to push on the sankirtana

movement of Lord Caitanya, and he wanted them to manage the movement in a

responsible way. He also wanted them to act as watchdogs, seeing that the

proper standards of Krsna consciousness are maintained in all ISKCON

temples, that ISKCON's assets are protected, and that philosophical

deviation is not allowed to creep in.

 

The mood in which the appraisals were carried out was characterized by

Madhusevita prabhu as being "respectful and humble, but at the same time

frank and open," and the recommendations which have arisen from them are

meant to further enhance the already existing qualities and contributions of

the GBC members.

 

It is hoped that the appraisal process will be undertaken on a yearly basis.

 

An important development this year was the acceptance of a proposal

presented by a special sub-committee headed by Madhusevita Prabhu for

revising the way in which the GBC Body functions. It will lighten the

burden of management on the GBC members, and at the same time increase the

efficiency of the preaching mission.

 

For some time the GBC members have felt that there was something wrong in

the way in which the GBC body functioned. Although things were being

accomplished, there was much room for improvement. Under the previous

structure of the GBC, it was difficult to give the proper vision, direction,

and preaching strategy to the movement, for each year the body was entangled

dealing with crisis management, problem solving, and defending ISKCON

against various deviations and attacks. Many devotees felt that the GBC

should be more of a brahminical body that can give the spiritual leadership

the movement really needs.

 

The GBC body has now delegated certain functions of management of the

society to an expanded Executive Committee. The GBC body remains the

ultimate managing authority of ISKCON, but to expedite its functioning, the

Executive Committee will do the actual organization of the preaching

mission. The GBC body will be concerned with developing the vision of the

preaching mission as well as the strategies on how to accomplish the goals

set forth by Srila Prabhupada. It will also make the policies and standards

that the society will execute during the year.

 

The Executive Committee will handle the day to day affairs of the society

through its secretariat, which will be empowered to channel problems to

appropriate agencies, which it will directly facilitate and whose work it

will monitor. An Executive Committee member will function as a Chief

Minister of the existing ISKCON ministries and facilitate their work. The

Executive Committee will also assist the society to realize its full

potential as an educational institution, by assisting the ministries to

create the curriculum for the devotees engaged in particular fields as well

as for the planned Varnasrama Colleges. It will also look at problematic

situations in ISKCON, or weak areas, and create the means by which these

weaknesses and problems can be resolved in the most positive manner.

 

The initial Executive Committee, which was elected for a minimum term of

three years, is Harikesa Swami as Chairman, Ravindra Swarup das,

Badrinarayana das, and Sesa das. They will try to implement the various

elements of the management structure during this year. The Committee will be

confirmed each year at the annual GBC meeting.

 

In June of 1997 the GBC commissioned a task force to make recommendations on

how to resolve allegations of past child abuse. In the case of confirmed

abuse, how to deal appropriately with the perpetrators and minister to the

victims, and to offer suggestions as to what systems should be put in place

to protect our children in the future.

 

The members of that task force are Akhandadhi dasa, Anuttama dasa,

Badri-narayan dasa (chairman), Dharmaraj dasa, Laxmimoni devi dasi, Manu

dasa, Pancaratna dasa, Sesa dasa, and Yasoda devi dasi, who among them have

considerable experience in the fields of education, child psychology,

administration, parenting, and the law. The draft was also reviewed by a

large number of parents, professionals, and ISKCON administrators.

 

The result was a 65 page draft proposal outlining an investigation and

tribunal

system to resolve past and future allegations of abuse. The proposal also

recommends the establishment of a central office which would organize

counseling for victims, coordinate the establishment and training of child

protection teams ISKCON-wide, implement comprehensive screening procedures

for ISKCON staff, organize seminars and publish educational material on the

above, as well as to act as a general advocate for the overall welfare of

our children and families. Also included was a budget to accomplish the

above and the necessary ISKCON laws to insure compliance and implementation.

 

The GBC Body voted unanimously to accept the proposal and it was thus voted

into ISKCON law.

 

The task force is now soliciting resumes for a director and secretary for

the

central office. These are full time, paid positions. Please contact

Badrinarayan dasa via e-mail at <103471.2315 (AT) compuserve (DOT) com> or via ISKCON's

San Diego temple for job descriptions. Professional credentials and ISKCON

references required.

 

For the first time in history a woman has been accepted as a Candidate for

GBC. Malati devi dasi, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada will be

overseeing ISKCON's activities in Ohio, Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania,

Detroit and West Virginia.

 

The Book Distribution ministry, headed by Navina Nirada dasa presented

figures showing that book distribution in 1997 was down from the previous

year, which was attributed to there being a lack of the same impetus there

was during Srila Prabhupada's Centennial. He appealed to the body to keep

the temples and devotees in their zones focussed on this most important

activity, and outlined plans the ministry has for furthering the education

of sankirtana devotees in sankirtana principles, and thus deepening their

commitment to their service.

 

There are currently 14 devotees on the sanyasa waiting list. Nine were moved

up one year, one was approved to take sanyasa this year, provided he passes

the bhakti sastri examination, and 4 devotees were placed on the list for

the first time.

 

The GBC body saw a multimedia presentation from Krsna-prema das and

Nitya-trpta devi dasi, produced for the Mayapur Project, showing ISKCON's

temples and activities around the world, an informative presentation on

Congregational Preaching by Jayapataka Swami plus excerpts from Bhakti Caru

Swami's Abhaya Carana television serial. This has been accepted by the GBC

as an ISKCON Global project. They heard presentations from devotees

representing global concerns such as social development, cow protection, the

ISKCON Constitution, the brahmacari asrama and the attacks being made on

Srila Prabhupada's movement by such groups as the proponents of "ritvik"

philosophy.

 

In order to further strengthen ISKCON and respond to the need for social

development within our society the GBC formed three new ministries. The

Ministry for Social Development Information, headed by Lokanatha Swami, the

Ministry for Grhastha and Community Development, headed by Jaya Sila dasa

and the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture, headed by Balabhadra

dasa.

 

All in all the GBC members feel enlivened and optimistic for the coming

year. With new organizational systems in place we expect to proactively

encourage healthy growth throughout Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON Movement well

into the next millennium. Finally the GBC Members were encouraged to feel a

strong increase in affectionate dealings amongst themselves and hope to see

that increase expand throughout the entire society.

 

Your GBC servants.