The Undergraduate Council overwhelmingly approved a grant to the Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship (HRCF) at its meeting last night, ending months of controversy over whether the group’s constitution violates the council’s non-discrimination policy.

The council also passed its third package of applications under this semester’s new rolling grant system but defeated an amendment that would have increased allocations to compensate for an unexpected paucity of requests.

The passage of the HRCF grant was spurred by the College’s decision to approve the group’s constitution and reaffirm its status as a recognized student organization, after a vote of the Committee on College Life (CCL) before spring break.

The council postponed the grant last November after representative Jason L. Lurie ’05 accused the group of discrimination on the basis of religion.

The HRCF constitution stated that group officers “must subscribe without reserve” to the basic tenets of Christianity.

Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth ’71 began an investigation into HRCF’s membership and leadership policies after the issue was raised by the council.

In an apparent about-face, the College’s approval of the constitution came after only minor alterations.

Though the non-discriminatory status of its general membership requirements has been clarified, the section requiring officers’ belief in Christianity remains.

In December, Illingworth told The Crimson that he was working with HRCF members “to develop constitutional changes which would bring them into compliance.”

Illingworth was unavailable for comment last night, but Council President Rohit Chopra ’04 said the administration “felt that religious organizations should have the ability to select their own leaders.”

Council members saw College affirmation of the organization as a green light to approve the embattled grant.

Without any debate, the council passed the grant by a roll-call vote of 31-5-5.

“Many groups discriminate based on how they select officers and how they select members,” Chopra said after the vote. “Religious groups do provide a valuable service to students. How we change their constitution will not change how these groups operate.”

Chopra said that given CCL’s decision, awarding the grant was the right thing to do.

Lurie argued that, the College’s decision aside, HRCF is still discriminatory in its leadership requirements.