From the ISKCON GBC – Minutes Of The Annual General Meeting – February 2017
313: Global Duties & Responsibilities of the Governing Body Commission
[ISKCON Law]
Whereas the GBC wishes to formalize the understanding of its global services to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness;
Whereas it is important that duties and responsibilities be clarified at all levels of the Society;
Whereas the GBC wishes to produce a legacy document for the instruction and training of future GBC members:
RESOLVED:
That the document “Global Duties & Responsibilities of the Governing Body Commission (GBC)” is accepted as an official statement and shall be part of ISKCON Law.
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(The following is an excerpt from the above mentioned document)
On July 28, 1970, in the Direction of Management, the document establishing the Governing Body Commission, after listing the twelve Governing Body Commissioners he had selected, Srila Prabhupada wrote: “These personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors.” Executors are responsible of ensuring that a person’s wishes – in this case, Srila Prabhupada’s – are granted with regards to the management of his properties and legacy – in this case, the protection and guidance of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The GBC has been entrusted with this fiduciary duty of caring for the whole of ISKCON on behalf of the Founder-Acarya.
A few weeks after establishing the GBC, Srila Prabhupada wrote to a disciple: “Perhaps you know I have already formed a Governing Body Commission, so in my absence they will manage the affairs of the Society.” (Letter to Umapati, August 23, 1970) Srila Prabhupada expressed the same idea a number of times: “The future hope of solid standing of our mission is on the proper management of our governing body.” (Letter to Bhagavan, February 16, 1971) “For better management of the whole institution, the governing body commission is responsible.” (Letter to Satsvarupa, February 26, 1971)
Within this broad, inclusive mandate we can identify three distinct areas. First, the aspects for which Srila Prabhupada provided clear and detailed instructions, instructions that are universal and ongoing. These should be treated as fundamental, immovable principles – one such principle is the collegial governance of ISKCON. For instance, in his purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila 12.8), Srila Prabhupada links the history of the Gaudiya Matha to ISKCON: “Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next acarya.”
Second, the aspects for which Srila Prabhupada offered only general directions but no firm details. For instance, Srila Prabhupada expressed the desire to create a global legal structure for ISKCON: “Now I want to make an International Trust Board for the whole Society” (Letter to Bali Mardana, August 14, 1974); but the particulars of this overall legal entity need to be defined. In fact, Srila Prabhupada himself wrote to a GBC member: “I have built the skeleton of the building, but there is so much more work remaining before us. The GBC men are there, the world is divided into 12 zones for gradual development by these, my chosen right hand men. So however you manage it, that you know best.” (Letter to Hamsaduta, January 2, 1973)
Third, aspects Srila Prabhupada did not delve into or discuss; either because they did not exist at the time (such as the Internet) or because they became prominent only at a certain stage of ISKCON’s development. How initiating spiritual masters should relate with local managers is an example. Given these three categories of themes, this document will offer varying degrees of direct evidence from Srila Prabhupada’s words.
One thing is certain: in his “Declaration of Will,” signed on June 4, 1977, Srila Prabhupada stated: “The Governing Body Commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” Throughout the years, Srila Prabhupada repeated and confirmed the same idea; even in the last recorded mentions of “GBC”: “The institution depends on the GBC.” (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, November 5, 1977) “I wish that you GBC manage very nicely.” (Room Conversation, Vrindavan, November 8, 1977)
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