We are pleased to present the June 12, 2024 GBC Meeting Highlights Report. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting highlighting the key topic discussed.

The meeting commenced with an invocation of prayers led by Bir Krishna Goswami, followed by a reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam (8.3.1) by Nrsimha Kavaca Das. The passage from the chapter titled ‘Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender’ was read with its translation: “Thereafter, the King of elephants, Gajendra, fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence and chanted a mantra which he had learned in his previous birth as Indradyumna and which he remembered by the grace of Krishna.”

The primary topic of discussion was the Mid-Term Meeting (MTM) 2024 which was set to take place from 1-7 October, at New Vrindavan in the United States. The Mid-Term meetings are generally held in a different region of the world each year, to encourage and facilitate deeper connections and exchanges with devotees from diverse regions.

This year, many GBC members cannot attend in person, and without a minimum quorum of 60% of GBC members, the Mid-Term Meeting cannot be constituted. The GBC members considered if a blended (in-person and online) meeting would be a viable alternative. Concerns were raised that a blended meeting would (1) not serve the purpose of deepening connections with the local leaders and devotees and (2) significantly compromise the meeting’s quality and effectiveness, given the multi-day format of these meetings.

Considering the unavailability of a minimum quorum, the GBC voted to cancel the Mid-Term Meeting proposed for October 2024.

The GBC is grateful to the ISKCON North American leadership for their willingness to host these meetings and looks forward to connecting with the North American yatra.

– Issued by GBC Communications