The student group campaigning for the resignation of the Rev. Peter J. Gomes as minister of Memorial Church has launched a new offensive, urging the University to re-examine allegations of administrative misconduct that were first raised four years ago.

Concerned Christians at Harvard, which claims 50 members, is publicizing charges made by a former Memorial Church administrator about Gomes' hiring practices and his financial management of the church during the 1980s.

The former officials, Edwin R. Melhorn, first made the allegations after he was fired by Gomes in May 1987. A University investigation concluded at the time that Gomes "did not violate the trust which the University has placed in him," said Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54 in a statement issued last month.

The Concerned Christians issued a press release last week urging the University to conduct a new investigation of the charges. The group has been in contact with several news organizations, including CNN, Time magazine and The Boston Globe, but sent the statement only to The Crimson.

The Concerned Christians has urged Gomes to resign because it disagrees with his belief that homosexuality is not a sin. The group's support for Melhorn's allegations adds a new dimension to its campaign, expanding it beyond a doctrinal dispute.

Last November, Gomes announced he is gay during a rally against an issue of the conservative journal Peninsula which included several articles critical of homosexuality.

The Concerned Christians staged a candlelight vigil against Gomes last month, shortly after President Neil L. Rudenstine issued a strong statement defending him.

Sumner E. Anderson '92, the group's chair, says Rudenstine should withdraw his endorsement of Gomes in light of melhorn's allegations.

Melhorn brought the information to Anderson in January after reading about his demand for Gomes' resignation in The Crimson.

Gomes, who is also Plummer professor of Christian morals, issued a statement last month declining to comment on the charges.

"I do not believe that these allegations demandany further comment by myself or my staff asfurther comment will only serve to give credenceto something that deserves none," he said.

Gomes is bound by a confidentialityagreement--part of the settlement of Melhorn'semployment dispute with Harvard--which forbids himfrom discussing Melhorn's allegations, accordingto his attorney Steven Brooks. Melhorn allegedlyviolated the agreement by airing the charges, saysBrooks.

Range of Allegations

In a series of interviews with The Crimson,Melhorn painted an unflattering portrait of Gomesand made a wide variety of charges about hisconduct. The allegations range in severity fromviolations of University rules to questions abouthis management ability to personal attacks on hischaracter.

Melhorn provided The Crimson with copies of anumber of documents which he says substantiate hisassertions.

The bulk of Melhorn's charges is related toquestionable use of Memorial Church funds in 1986and a hiring decision in 1987 which allegedlyviolated University personnel regulations.