The Sunday service was a special one at the Boston Church of Christ (BCC). Dean Farmer Jr., once a BCC member, now a minister for its Berlin sister church, returned home last month to preach a sermon titled, "We Are the Spirit of God."

"We are a radical church," the minister boomed. "We are a church of controversy. If you don't like controversy, you're not going to like us."

The Boston Church of Christ has lived up to this claim of controversy at Harvard. Prohibited on campus for its lack of sufficient student endorsement and criticized by proctors for its alleged harassment of students, the off-campus church has a spirited, although limited, number of student members.

During a three-week investigation, two Crimson reporters attended three meetings of the BCC, undercover, to examine the manner in which the self-described "controversial" church attempts to reach out to students at Harvard.

They found that all full-fledged BCC members contribute money, although one Harvard churchgoer says donations are voluntary.

In addition, the investigation found that the church attracts large numbers of international students, churchgoers socialize primarily within their own circles and some congregants said they receive emotional support from the organization.

Some might say these facts mesh well with perceptions shared by many Harvard students that the BCC attempts to entrap the vulnerable within its fold.

However, members did not intrude into the lives of the undercover reporters, demand money, harass the reporters with phone calls or insist on attendance at any of their events.

'We Are Sinners'

Harvard participants in the group generally gather at Au Bon Pain every Sunday morning before travelling by train to Winchester High School for the weekly services of one of the Boston sectors of 275 members, according to Natashya L. Trejo '97, an active BCC member.

However, for their first meeting, the reporters attended a special BCC service in John Hancock Hall in downtown Boston last month.

Joined by Trejo and Michael J. Hrnicek '96, the two Crimson reporters arrived to an already-packed auditorium.

Five church members stood on stage behind microphones and led the congregation in gospel songs. The crowd sang along, clapped and swayed rhythmically.

Speakers talked about the church's activities, including a fund for orphaned children. A woman spoke enthusiastically about the BCC Women's Day that had occurred the day before.

Throughout the speeches, members shouted encouraging words and frequently rose to applaud. "Standing ovations are a dime a dozen here," whispered a congregant.