DENVER -- The pastor of an East Denver church has apologized for a "Jews Killed Jesus" sign, following a protest by dozens of people and the intervention of the United Pentecostal Church International.

Wednesday, the sign outside of the Lovingway United Pentecostal Church at Colorado Boulevard and Tennessee Avenue read "Jews Killed The Lord Jesus," a reference to the controversy over the new movie about the death of Jesus Christ.

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Wednesday night, about 100 people gathered outside the church to denounce the church sign, saying it sent a message of hate and anti-Semitism.

"Most people are friendly most people want the best for everybody but there are a few people out there that want to create controversy and create conflict, said Jesse Yasse, a protester.

"If feels good to see that people of all faiths are standing united and saying 'No, this is not acceptable,'" said Jeff Auerback, another protester.

The pastor of Lovingway, Maurice Gorden, said he put up the original message in response to the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion of The Christ." He said he did it to get people to think about what is in the bible.

Thursday, the sign was changed to include an apology by Gorden.

He had been contacted by the United Pentecostal Church district office about the original sign, which gained international attention.

"Rev. Maurice Gordon has acted individually and separately from the United Pentecostal Church International and all of its affiliates," said a statement from the Rev. Billy E. Hale, the district superintendent. "Rev. Gordon's decision was made without support or contribution from the United Pentecostal Church International and does not reflect our position on this matter. We regret any offense his actions have caused."

"It is ironic that a church named 'Lovingway' would advance such an attitude of hurtfulness," said the Rev. Jim Ryan, a spokesman for the Colorado Council of Churches. "Christ gave his life for all people. To blame a particular group of people, then or now, is a misuse of the Gospel of love and grace. The Colorado Council of Churches wishes to make it clear that this one congregation does not speak for the vast majority of the Christian community. In fact, we stand in direct opposition to the message on this sign and its implications."

"In regards to the Jewish guilt concerning the crucifixion, the United Pentecostal Church International believes that all of humanity was complicit in His crucifixion," continued the statement by Hale. "According to our belief, neither the Jews nor the Romans had the power to kill Jesus, but Jesus, by His own admission, laid down His own life for the salvation of all humankind." The church sign was changed shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday to say "God So Loved The World That He Gave." It was changed again Thursday afternoon to an apology by Gorden.

Gibson's film has been criticized because it depicts the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as reluctant to crucify Jesus, placing the blame more on the Jewish high priest Caiaphas. Some people fear that the extreme violence and brutality inflicted on Jesus in the movie could foster unwarranted resentment toward Jews.

The $25 million movie, although intense and graphically violent, is being praised by Christian leaders for bringing the Passion story to a large national audience.

Gibson financed the movie by himself because no Hollywood studio was willing to invest. Gibson, a devout Catholic, belongs to a traditionalist sect that rejects Vatican II changes in 1965 as too liberal, changes that include a law that condemned the medieval thinking that Jews were cursed by God.

That so-called "blood libel" is in the Gospel according to Matthew, when Caiaphas says, "His blood be on us and our children," for allowing the crucifixion to happen.

The movie opened to packed audiences on Ash Wednesday.

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• February 25, 2004: 'Jews Killed Jesus' Sign Causing Controversy
February 25, 2004: Debate Continues As 'Passion' Opens