Some council members felt the meeting was necessary to assuage recently strained relations between the town and the church.

Others believed that allowing the church to suggest new language, outside of a council meeting or a public hearing, could infringe on the council's authority.

"Even if we don't budge, they've been hurt," council member Betsy Klinger said. "[Meeting with them] could make it better."

"I believe we could be setting a dangerous precedent" by allowing them to give input, council member John Tomlin said.

Klinger and Tomlin will both be on the subcommittee. The council also planned to invite a town resident to join.

Church members asked the council to form a subcommittee at a public hearing in January, because they worried that the ordinance could restrict the church's mission.

The ordinance would require churches, schools and nonprofits to get special permission from the town's planning commission and the board of zoning appeals for further developments.

It would also restrict the amount traffic allowed in and out of town.

The council drafted the ordinance in response to the church's 2003 announcement that it would open a school within a few months, which residents feared would bring too much daily traffic into the town.

Although the church eventually decided not to open the school, the announcement brought attention to the fact that the town had no power to restrict such development.

At the council meeting, most council members agreed that a January public hearing did shed light on areas that might need adjustment or further discussion.

"Some things need to be clarified," council member Darrell Anderson said. "I think it's a good ordinance. I think it met what the town wanted to do, without punishing the church."

"[The church wants] us to ensure it's not restricting worship activity, which I don't think it does, but maybe we could say it in the language, to allay their fears," council member David Stopak said.

The council agreed to discuss the ordinance again at their next meeting, after the subcommittee has met with the church.