February 13th
By Sraddhadevi dasi
The GBC deputies began the eighth day of the Annual General Meeting of
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission with another session of voting. GBC
members discussed and voted on GBC Ministry and GBC Committee member
appointments, such as the Minister of Book Distribution, Minister of
Education, and Guru Services Committee members.
A report was also given by Praghosa dasa on behalf of Mayapur management.
After requesting and receiving suggestions from a financial and
organizational audit, Praghosa dasa informed the GBC that approximately 80%
of the financial recommendations have been put in place for ISKCON Mayapur
and that Mayapur management is currently working on incorporating the
organizational suggestions as well. There is still a large amount of work to
be done in Mayapur, however, and Praghosa dasa humbly requested the
blessings of the GBC Body for the Mayapur management to continue working
toward meeting their goals.
ISKCON’s Child Protection Office (CPO) was the next topic of discussion in
the morning session. The Child Protection Office is ISKCON’s ecclesiastical
body that provides education and manages reports of alleged child abuse
within ISKCON communities. The CPO does not supersede or replace state or
national judicial systems, but rather provides additional support and
education within the organization to insure the protection of children
within ISKCON.
Tamohara dasa, who was the CPO Director for five years, introduced to the
GBC Champakalata devi dasi, the new CPO Director from Durban, South Africa.
Having grown up as an active member of ISKCON and being a highly skilled
lawyer, Champakalata devi dasi carries immense qualification to take on the
service of CPO Director.
Following an introduction from Tamohara dasa, Champakalata devi dasi gave an
impressive report to the GBC on the status and goals of the Child Protection
Office. In the presentation, Champakalata devi dasi stated that a major
challenge for the CPO is to locate and train more devotees who can serve on
review boards and assess reports of child abuse. She also stated that all
ISKCON temples, according to ISKCON law, are required to form a Child
Protection Team. A Child Protection Team consists of responsible devotees
who are knowledgeable in local child abuse laws and trained to properly
respond to reports of child abuse in their community. If a temple does not
yet have a Child Protection Team, they are required to assemble a team
immediately. Training from the CPO is provided for those needing to create
or desiring to serve on a Child Protection Team. For more details, please
see www.childprotectionoffice.org.
All members of the GBC were thoroughly impressed with Champakalata devi
dasi’s knowledge and capabilities. A vote was called and Champakalata devi
dasi was unanimously appointed as the new Director of ISKCON’s Child
Protection Office. In turn, Tamohara dasa officially resigned from the
position of CPO Director as GBC Members offered words of thanks and applause
for his years of CPO service.
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission with another session of voting. GBC
members discussed and voted on GBC Ministry and GBC Committee member
appointments, such as the Minister of Book Distribution, Minister of
Education, and Guru Services Committee members.
A report was also given by Praghosa dasa on behalf of Mayapur management.
After requesting and receiving suggestions from a financial and
organizational audit, Praghosa dasa informed the GBC that approximately 80%
of the financial recommendations have been put in place for ISKCON Mayapur
and that Mayapur management is currently working on incorporating the
organizational suggestions as well. There is still a large amount of work to
be done in Mayapur, however, and Praghosa dasa humbly requested the
blessings of the GBC Body for the Mayapur management to continue working
toward meeting their goals.
ISKCON’s Child Protection Office (CPO) was the next topic of discussion in
the morning session. The Child Protection Office is ISKCON’s ecclesiastical
body that provides education and manages reports of alleged child abuse
within ISKCON communities. The CPO does not supersede or replace state or
national judicial systems, but rather provides additional support and
education within the organization to insure the protection of children
within ISKCON.
Tamohara dasa, who was the CPO Director for five years, introduced to the
GBC Champakalata devi dasi, the new CPO Director from Durban, South Africa.
Having grown up as an active member of ISKCON and being a highly skilled
lawyer, Champakalata devi dasi carries immense qualification to take on the
service of CPO Director.
Following an introduction from Tamohara dasa, Champakalata devi dasi gave an
impressive report to the GBC on the status and goals of the Child Protection
Office. In the presentation, Champakalata devi dasi stated that a major
challenge for the CPO is to locate and train more devotees who can serve on
review boards and assess reports of child abuse. She also stated that all
ISKCON temples, according to ISKCON law, are required to form a Child
Protection Team. A Child Protection Team consists of responsible devotees
who are knowledgeable in local child abuse laws and trained to properly
respond to reports of child abuse in their community. If a temple does not
yet have a Child Protection Team, they are required to assemble a team
immediately. Training from the CPO is provided for those needing to create
or desiring to serve on a Child Protection Team. For more details, please
see www.childprotectionoffice.org.
All members of the GBC were thoroughly impressed with Champakalata devi
dasi’s knowledge and capabilities. A vote was called and Champakalata devi
dasi was unanimously appointed as the new Director of ISKCON’s Child
Protection Office. In turn, Tamohara dasa officially resigned from the
position of CPO Director as GBC Members offered words of thanks and applause
for his years of CPO service.
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