Ministries
Ministry Departments
ISKCON Ministries are led by dedicated Ministers appointed by the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to provide leadership and expertise in key areas such as Education, Book Distribution, Communications, and Congregational Development. Each Minister is responsible for advancing the mission of their ministry, offering guidance, resources, and strategic support to ISKCON leaders and regional coordinators around the world. Ministers also help educate leaders on practical steps to fulfill the ministry’s goals. Every year, Ministers submit reports to the GBC and are invited to participate in the GBC’s Annual General Meeting.
Ministry of Communications
https://www.iskconcommunications.org/
The Office of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) works to create and sustain favorable environments for advancing the goals of the Krishna consciousness movement by establishing and maintaining confidence and faith in the integrity of the movement’s members and its mission. We believe that to fulfill our mission, we must adhere to the following principles and values. These principles represent the spiritual foundation upon which we base our communication.
- Consistency with Srila Prabhupada’s teaching and example
- Appropriate consideration of time, place, and circumstance
- Pro-activity
- Building interdependent relationships
- Maintaining exemplary character and behavior
Deity Worship Ministry
The ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry facilitates and encourages the maintenance and development of deity worship according to Srila Prabhupada’s example and teachings by offering education, resources, and guidance to inspire and nourish devotees’ desire to worship the deity form of the Lord. Additionally, we strive to foster within ISKCON the corresponding brahmana Vaisnava culture centered on the service and worship of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna.
The Deity Worship Ministry is very active in developing and offering training, online and in-person.
Congregational Development Ministry
https://iskconcongregation.com/
The Ministry actively collaborates with ISKCON affiliates worldwide to facilitate the spiritual growth of individuals and communities according to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. We offer consultancy, education, and networking to assist the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to develop and expanding its communities in accordance with the following principles:
- A deeply caring attitude for all members, according to their stage in life and their different levels of needs
- Promoting the engagement of all devotees in outreach and their empowerment in taking responsibility for the mission
- Organizing all practitioners in small groups for intimate exchanges and the building of friendly relations; regular supervision and support
- Temples as tirthas for inspiration and exemplary behavior; enthusing large gatherings and festivals
- Ongoing systematic training and education
ISKCON Youth Ministry
The ISKCON Youth Ministry inspires, trains, engages, and empowers youth in Krishna consciousness to their fullest potential. We work with volunteers to create environments favorable for our mission. We’ll share information and success stories on this website and hope that you will be inspired to start similar programs in your community.
One of the major projects of the Youth Ministry are bus tours around North America, Mexico, and sometimes Europe.
Vaishnavi Ministry
https://vaishnaviministry.org/
The ISKCON Vaishnavi Ministry (Women’s Ministry) promotes a culture of open-hearted empowerment for Vaishnavis through association, education, representation, support, and service. We work together to preserve Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, especially in relation to Vaishnavis, to provide a facility for Vaishnavi sanga and training, to increase opportunities for Vaishnavis to engage their talents in devotional service, to give Vaishnavis a voice in our society, and to build networks of support for Vaishnavis.
Ministry of Education
The ISKCON Education Ministry provides Krishna-conscious education of high quality to everyone through temples, educational institutions, and various global initiatives.
- Empowering and supporting educational initiatives and collaborations among educators, educational institutions, and professionals
- Establishing and monitoring high standards of Vaisnava education
- Supervising the development and execution of educational plans and ensuring they are delivered to high standards
- Understanding and fulfilling the educational needs of the Krsna-conscious families
- Making every temple an educational centre and a centre of excellence
Ministry of Sannyasa Services
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) has assigned a group of senior devotees to formulate the policies of the Sannyasa Ministry, and to recommend to the GBC how those policies should be applied personally in accordance with time, place, and circumstance.
Ministry of Book Distribution
https://www.iskconbookdistribution.com/
The ISKCON Book Distribution Ministry is dedicated to promoting and executing the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books globally as a vital means of spiritual outreach.
Ministry of Cow Protection & Agriculture
The Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture bases its activities around the seventh purpose of ISKCON, which is to bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
Ministry of Padayatra
http://www.padayatra.com/
The ISKCON Padayatra Ministry is a spiritual outreach program in which devotees travel on foot—often with processions, sankirtan (public chanting), distribution of books and prasadam, to bring the teachings of Lord Krishna (and the practice of chanting) into villages, towns, and rural areas. The concept of padayatra is inspired by the example of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who walked across India chanting and spreading devotional service, and was revived in modern times by ISKCON devotees to revive that tradition as a “walking temple” of outreach and witness. Over the decades, it has grown into a coordinated movement with regional padayatras across India and worldwide, acting as a mobile preaching force to reach people more directly.
Other ISKCON Offices
Ministry of Justice
https://iskconministryofjustice.org/home/
The ISKCON Ministry of Justice promotes fairness, accountability, and harmony within the ISKCON community. It ensures ethical governance and supports conflict resolution in alignment with Vedic principles and ISKCON’s spiritual values.
Ministry of Fund Development
https://www.iskconfunddevelopment.org/
ISKCON Fund Development works to create and sustain favorable environments for advancing the goals of the Krishna consciousness movement – by establishing and maintaining confidence and faith in the integrity of the movement’s members and its mission. As such, we are committed to helping ISKCON be a respected and influential cultural and religious organization all over the world.
Sastric Advisory Council
https://gbc.iskcon.org/sac-papers/
The GBC Body has established a Sastric Advisory Committee (SAC), which is a permanent, pro-active body of senior devotees that offers input to the GBC Body according to scripture, philosophy, and realization. Subordinate to the GBC Body, the SAC is advisory only. The conclusions and advice of the SAC are not binding on the GBC Body. The purpose of the SAC is to avail the GBC Body with philosophical perspectives, references, and siddhantas, to augment the utility and soundness of the GBC Body’s decisions, thus preserving the integrity of the GBC, and to focus, refine, and support the power of the GBC Body, and not counterbalance it.
The duties of the SAC are to research scriptural siddhanta on major issues mandated by the GBC Body, respond to requests from the GBC Body or its Executive Committee for philosophical advice, and to remain always aloof from the legislative process.
ISKCON Property Office
https://www.iskconsabha.com/global-property-office
The ISKCON Global Property Office (“GPO”) is responsible for governance, oversight, and development of professional standards relating to ‘property’ matters as set out in His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s Declaration of Will (the “Will”). The GPO is established by the GBC, with the GBC Executive Committee serving as rotating members. The GPO, while designated by the GBC as the office to deal with all ISKCON’s property matters, does not replace any local Property Trustee’s legal responsibility vis-à-vis the property, and fulfills a regulatory role to ensure compliance with the GPO requirements for effective ISKCON property management.
Central Office of Child Protection
https://www.iskconchildprotection.org
The Central Office of Child Protection (CPO) mission is to protect the children of Srila Prabhupada’s movement from child abuse and neglect. By doing so, we strengthen the future of the movement – the children – while providing an example to the world of a spiritual society that practices compassionate caring and protection. Our services include:
- Investigating and adjudicating past and present cases of alleged child abuse
- Supporting victims of mistreatment when they were children under the care of the organization
- Establishing prevention programs to help temples and schools establish child protection teams and screening programs for staff and volunteers
- Establishing education programs to assist temples and schools in creating child protection education programs for managers, teachers, children, parents, and other community members
- Acting as a resource and guidance center for all child protection concerns
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Ready to experience the joy of devotion, discover ancient wisdom, and make a meaningful impact? The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) welcomes people from all walks of life to connect, serve, and grow. Whether you’re interested in chanting, attending festivals, learning about spiritual philosophy, or contributing to our global efforts, there’s a place for you here. Come explore how you can enrich your life and the lives of others through the transformative practice of bhakti-yoga.