Leaders of the Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship (HRCF) met with Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth ’71 on Friday in the first step toward bringing the group in line with the College’s non-discrimination policy.

In a case that raises deep questions about the nature of group identity at Harvard and other colleges, HRCF will likely compromise with the administration on its doctrinal requirements for leadership positions.

The meeting last week came as the Undergraduate Council awaits approval from the College before it can provide grants to HRCF and its sister organization, the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship (AACF).

Illingworth has reviewed HRCF’s constitution, which requires officers to “subscribe without reserve to...principles of faith” that include belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the existence of the Holy Spirit, to determine whether it unfairly discriminates on the basis of religious faith.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) policy states that no official undergraduate organization may have a constitution that discriminates on the basis of creed, among other characteristics. Only officially recognized groups may receive council funding.

Prisca E. Shrewsbury ’03, a member of HRCF’s executive board, said the meeting she and two other HRCF leaders had with Illingworth did not result in any definite change.

“Right now, we haven’t made any decisions at all,” she said. “It’s all very preliminary.”

Deborah C. Morton ’03, also a member of HRCF’s executive board, said the process might be a lengthy one.

“Illingworth has some stuff to think about, and we have some stuff to think about,” she said. “We’re definitely going to meet again, possibly a lot.”

While members of the group’s executive board have stressed the need for HRCF’s constitution to continue to reflect its mission, they have also expressed a willingness to compromise with the administration on the precise wording of the constitution. Illingworth declined to speak on Friday and was not available for comment yesterday.

In the meantime, the Undergraduate Council’s Finance Committee (FiCom) has approved a provisional grant to HRCF, which the entire council would vote upon after administrators give the go-ahead on a revised version of HRCF’s constitution. At that point, the council would probably approve the suggested grant.

FiCom member Joshua A. Barro ’05 said last week that the committee has postponed presenting a grant to the council for AACF until its constitution also receives approval from the administration.

Sheila S. Myung ’03, a member of AACF’s executive board, said the group’s constitution came into question after the council examined in November the charters of organizations applying for funding, though AACF has not spoken with Illingworth about the matter.

“We haven’t actually heard anything from the administration,” she said, though she added that it seems likely that the group will reach a resolution with the administration.

Under Construction, a Christian a capella group, inadvertently had their grant application withdrawn after a “slight miscommunication” between Under Construction and outgoing council Treasurer Eric J. Powell ’03, according to Jinna Chung ’04, the singing group’s manager.