A member of the Undergraduate Council yesterday accused Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III of religious discrimination in delaying recognition of a student Bible study group.

Michael J. Hrnicek '96, president of Harvard Christians in Action, said he has been trying for two years to receive official recognition for his group, but Epps has repeatedly stalled the process.

Some of club's members, including Hrnicek, belong to the Boston Church of Christ, a church some proctors have referred to as a cult, Hrnicek said.

"He has concerns with my church, and he doesn't like my church," Hrnicek said. "He said in September that at the end of the week we would either be recognized as a student organization, or as a United Ministry organization, but nothing has happened."

In an interview yesterday, Epps said his concerns about recognizing the organization reflect not a prejudice against Hrnicek's religious views but a concern over the group's autonomy.

"I don't think beliefs is the issue. I don't actually know his beliefs," Epps said. "The issue is one of conduct on campus. Is it an outside organization or is it a Harvard organization?"

Epps said he wonders whether the group is autonomous because members of the "International Boston Church of Christ" met with him last summer about the recognition of Hrnicek's organization.

"We would like undergraduates to run their own affairs and think that's an important part of the undergraduate education," Epps said. "When it says Harvard--that's an accurate description."

According to a letter from Epps to the Committee on College Life (COCL), the body authorized to approve new student groups, University policy requires that groups applying for official recognition register each fall with Epps' office.

They must have no fewer than 10 undergraduate members, be led entirely by undergraduate officers and have two University advisors, including one full faculty member. Retaining local autonomy is also a requirement.

While maintaining his group's autonomy, Hrnicek acknowledged speaking with Doug Webber, an evangelist for the Boston Church of Christ.

"We aren't trying to start a church," Hrnicek said. "[Webber] was a student at MIT and Yale Medical School and is a doctor locally. I asked him because Dean Epps was talking of applying through United Ministry."

Webber did not return repeated telephone calls yesterday.

Hrnicek said he wants official recognition in order to apply for funding from the Undergraduate Council and increase publicity for his group.

"In my opinion, I don't believe the Bible is lived out," Hrnicek said. "A lot of groups like to look at it."

Epps said he plans to call a special meeting of the COCL next week to discuss whether to recognize Hrnicek's group.