Whereas ISKCON requires common standards, policies, and procedures for managing investigations of misconduct or abuse, in instituting corrective and rehabilitative consequences for offenders, as well as in restorative justice for all involved when guilt is established; Resolved: That the GBC Body hereby recognizes that an “ISKCON Legal Development Committee” has been created by the ISKCON Ministry of Justice and has been delegated the following responsibilities...

The GBC Body endorses the recommendation of the GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee that it may proceed as follows: 1. That the observance of "Lalita Sasti" be removed from the calendar. 2. That the observance of the "Appearance of Radhakund" be shifted to Caitra Purnima. 3. That the observance of Bhadra Purnima be added to the calendar.

ISKCON Law 7.3.2 is amended to read as follows: As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one's diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However historical precedents also teach us that disciples may sometimes, in exceptional cases, initiate in the physical presence of their diksa-gurus. The GBC clarifies that an individual devotee taking up the service of diksa-guru in the physical presence of their guru may be allowed as an exception when the following conditions are met. The Guru Services Committee will confirm that the candidate for becoming a second ge...

In order to start a cow protection project that will be accredited within ISKCON and accepted as an ISKCON supported project, a “Cow protection Certificate of Readiness” needs to be obtained. The following are the requirements for obtaining such a certificate, which will allow new cow protection projects to commence their operations: 1. The GBC Minimum Cow protection Standards ISKCON Law 507(1999) needs to be read and fully understood before applying for the certificate. 2. An exam must be taken and passed. The questions in the exam will be based on the content of Law 507. 3. A well-th...

Whereas the current commercial dairy systems of the world in which the older cows, practically all bulls, young and old, and most female calves are slaughtered is thoroughly condemned and abhorrent; Whereas Srila Prabhupada wrote in this regard: “These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society.” (SB 1.17.3 Purport) Resolved: By Janmastami 2022 all ISKCON centers should develop a plan whereby all milk and milk products — butter, ghee, yogurt etc. — offered to the deities are procured from protected cows. The centers may approach the International Ministr...

Whereas plastic is often used once-off and then thrown away; Whereas the lifetime of plastic varies from 50 years to more than 1000 years; Whereas plastic contaminates mother earth and her inhabitants; Whereas many ISKCON temples use plastic and foam cups, plates, spoons, water bottles, maha-prasadam packages, plastic bags, etc., once-off and then discard them despite there being biodegradable alternatives; Whereas Srila Prabhupada states that first you become conscious and then you become Krishna conscious; Whereas there is an increasing awareness in the general public about such issues and ...

On behalf of the GBC Body, we respectfully offer you the title of GBC Emeritus with gratitude and appreciation for your years of contributions and services to ISKCON and dedication to Srila Prabhupada. You pioneered Krishna consciousness and laid the foundation for ISKCON’s future growth in Switzerland in 1971, later establishing ISKCON as a legally recognized Swiss Church foundation. Thereafter, you organized Srila Prabhupada’s official reception by the Government of Geneva and, in 1978, organized the first public Rathayatra in a major European city outside the UK. Later, you successfully ...

We have leaders who are expert managers and we have leaders who are deeply immersed in Krsna consciousness, thus bringing another sort of expertise to management. You, however, are that very rare Vaisnava who is a brilliant manager yet deeply Krsna conscious, committed to your service in Srila Prabhupada's mission yet conscious of the needs of others, philosophically astute, yet humorous and lighthearted. There is scarcely a committee or project that has not benefitted from your input. And whenever a new topic arises, yours is often the first input we seek out. It is an understatement to say tha...

We hereby accept your letter of resignation with immense gratitude for your service to the GBC Body. Beginning with your contributions to developing and maintaining the Child Protection Office as its director, you have steadily accepted your service as a leader in ISKCON with integrity and dedication. Your educational background, your insights, and your focus on serving the devotees of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON have brought so much benefit to our society. In addition, your balance of understanding and compassion along with firm adherence to Srila Prabhupada's instructions were particularly high...

Global Devotee Care Course Education — 2019. Whereas caring for devotees (vaisnava-seva) is one of the three cardinal principles given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; Whereas Srila Prabhupada was himself a personification of devotee care (example, he built the Lotus Building before the Mayapur temple to facilitate devotees); Whereas there is benefit to ISKCON to develop devotee communities that are spiritually vibrant and materially stable; Whereas, often devotees leave or develop bitterness towards the movement due to inadequate devotee care: Resolved: That the GBC encourages all ISKCON Temples t...