Bureau of Missionary Activities of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is planning to establish the Committee of the Promotion of International Missionary Activities to assist the international propagation of Korean Buddhism and its related projects.

Bureau of Missionary Activities of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (Executive Director, Ven. Doyoung) made a preliminary announcement of the legislation of the Committee of the Promotion of International Missionary Activities for the public opinion on the homepage the Jogye Order (www.buddhism.or.kr) on 21, July 2006.

This preliminary announcement is to accommodate the resolution of the Council of Missionary Activities of the Jogye Order to support the enhancement the active international missionary activities at the level of the Jogye Order by systematizing the overseas missionary activities. So far, there was no legislation whatever with regard to the international missionary activities.

The legislation stipulates the chief mission of the Committee of the Promotion of International Missionary Activities as follows:
1. Training of the specialists on the overseas missionary activities including interpreters and translators of foreign language.
2. Establishment of international site to promote missionary activities through internet.
3. Support and management of overseas inspection and tour
4. Management of the organization of sponsors and funds

The legislation also stipulates that the committee will be composed of nine members including a chairman who must have a fair experience of overseas missionary activities along with a firm resolution with the status of the Jogye Order monk. The committee members will be appointed by the Executive Director of Bureau of the Missionary Activities of JOKB.

The members of the committee also must have an experience of overseas missionary activities with special skill and knowledge. The members will be appointed by the Executive Director of Missionary Activities on the recommendation of the chairman, but the Director of Missionary Work will be a mandatory member of the committee. The tenure of the chairman is two years and can be reappointed.

The regular meeting of the committee will be held once a month. The occasional meetings will be held by the request of the chairman when it is deemed necessary or by the request of one third of the committee members. The resolution will be passed by the attendance of one half of the registered members and in favor of majority vote. The legislation stipulates the chairman to submit a quarterly report on the important missions to the Executive Director of the Missionary Activities.

The managing fund of the committee will be provided by a subsidy of the Jogye Order and the profit from the projects related to the overseas missionary activities and other diverse subsidies. The running expenses of the committee can be covered within the financial feasibility of the committee according to the regulation of the Jogye Order. The committee can also operate a supporting committee to raise financial contribution to promote overseas missionary activities. The Department of Missionary Activities of JOKB will attend to the administrative support of the committee.

The legislation will be proclaimed by the decree of the Jogye Order after the end of announcement period of 28, August 2006. According to the officials at the Missionary Activities, it is greatly hoped that the decree of the legislation by the Jogye Order will be a turning point of the overseas missionary activities of Korean Buddhism.