By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci declined Wednesday to meet with Michael Heath of the Christian Civic League of Maine to discuss same-sex marriage.

The governor’s office instead invited Heath to help Maine’s poor stay warm this winter by supporting the “Keep ME Warm” program.

“It’s a way for him to be more Christian and more civic,” said Baldacci spokesman Lee Umphrey.

Heath didn’t take up the offer.

“As vexing as fuel costs are, Mainers know that is not our mission,” Health reacted in an e-mail. “It isn’t the governor’s job to influence the mission of private ministries. He isn’t king.”

Heath and other conservative Christians opposed a gay rights law that Maine voters approved Tuesday at the polls. Heath said the law will lead to same-sex marriage.

After the defeat, Heath and others said Wednesday they now want the governor and lawmakers to change Maine’s constitution to ensure that same-sex marriage in Maine will never be allowed.

“Since you are opposed to same-sex marriage, we will need to meet as soon as possible to plan our strategy for protecting Maine from civil unions and same-sex marriage,” Heath wrote to Baldacci on Wednesday. “I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.”

Umphrey e-mailed Heath back, sending copies to the media. He thanked Heath for his e-mail to the governor, and said Question 1 was never about same-sex marriage.

“It was confusing to many people that your organization tried to reshape the debate,” Umphrey wrote. “The governor simply stated this was about civil rights and making Maine a place of opportunity for all people. Yesterday the people of Maine spoke.”

Several years ago, Umphrey angered Heath when Umphrey called civic league members “a collection of cuckoo clocks.”

Baldacci did say last week he does not support same-sex marriage. But he’s not interested in meeting with Heath “to continue this divisive debate while Maine faces more critical issues,” Umphrey wrote. “We challenge you to participate in a positive project. The Keep ME Warm Fund was created to help our neighbors most in need throughout the state as they cope with the rising cost of fuel. … Join us in helping people.”

Heath wasn’t impressed. Instead of taking up Heath on his serious offer to work together on an issue they both agree on, Baldacci “responds with a gratuitous effort to force the league to change its mission,” Heath said.

Heath predicted history “will not be kind to John Baldacci and his friends.”

Umphrey said members of the Governor’s Office have met with Heath, but Baldacci doesn’t meet with Heath because “of his tone and tenor.”