President Neil L. Rudenstine yesterday strongly defended Rev. Peter J. Gomes against charges that his views on homosexuality make him unfit to retain the position of minister in Memorial Church.

In response, Sumner E. Anderson '92, chair of the newly-formed student group that Tuesday called for Gomes' resignation, mounted another assault on the teachings of the minister.

In a written statement, Rudenstine said that it is not the University's place to dictate theological doctrine. As long as Gomes, who is also Plummer professor of Christian morals, continues to fulfill his duties, he should remain in office.

"I do not believe that it is the task of the University to apply a doctrinal test concerning issues that may be controversial but that are part of current theological debate, where reasonable people of different religious persuasions hold different views," he said in the statement.

Anderson struck back in a statement on behalf of the five-member group, Concerned Christians at Harvard.

"We have great respect for President Rudenstine, but he is no theologian," Anderson said. "We are deeply saddened that he has lent credibility to Reverend Gomes' attempt to rewrite the Gospel of Christ."

Concerned Christians at Harvard has argued that Gomes should resign because he preaches that homosexuality is not a sin.

Gomes announced that he is gay--and said that he does not believe his sexual orientation to be inconsistent with Christianity--at a December rally against the conservative magazine Peninsula, which had just published a controversial 64-page issue on homosexuality.

Rudenstine discussed Gomes' stance on homosexuality in an interview with The Crimson yesterday.

"I think it's clear that churches disagree on this issue, and that theologians disagree on this issue," Rudenstine said. "There are many positions, and it seems to me that it really isn't our task to decide what the proper theology is on this issue or other issues.

"My test has to be whether he is able to continue to do the essential duties of the office in an effective way, and that seems to me to be being done," Rudenstine said.

E. Adam Webb '93, a member of Concerned Christians at Harvard, said yesterday, "I think it's inconsistent with the Plummer professor's role as pastor of Memorial Church to alienate any significant portion of Harvard's Christian community, and that is what Peter Gomes has done."

Webb attacked Gomes for being outside themainstream of Christian religion.

"Those like himself, who believe thathomosexuality is compatible with Christian belief,are on the fringe of American Christianity," Webbsaid.

However, Rudenstine said in his statement, "Weshould remember that former ministers who haveheld the post of preacher or minister at theUniversity--including Phillips Brooks--werestrongly criticized during their own time fortheological views that were considered by manypeople to be heterodox."

Anderson said the group would continue itsefforts to obtain Gomes' resignation. "We continueto hope that Reverend Gomes will put aside hispersonal agenda and act for the greater good ofChristianity at Harvard by resigning," he said.

Concerned Christians at Harvard will hold abrief candlelight vigil on the steps of MemorialChurch Monday night, according to Anderson.

Despite repeated attempts, Gomes could not bereached for comment last night