AUGUSTA – A state lawmaker is launching a Christian-based group to participate in state policy debates and act as a counterbalance to the Christian Civic League of Maine.

Rep. Stan Moody of Manchester said Friday he is forming what he calls the Christian Policy Institute of Maine. He said the group will speak out for Christians who don’t feel represented by the Christian Civic League.

Moody, a former Republican turned Democrat as well as a Baptist minister and businessman, said he will release position papers and speak at events on gay rights, racism, poverty and health care issues.

“The civic league is out there all the time,” Moody said. “I want to be there to give a reasoned response. There are a lot of people who are strong believers who don’t want to be called Christian anymore, and I think that’s sad.”

The civic league’s focus on influencing state law, and its campaign to overturn the state’s new gay rights law, doesn’t represent the views of most Christians, Moody said. Voters will decide in November whether to overturn the law.

Michael Heath, executive director of the civic league, gave a two-sentence response to Moody’s announcement.

“We’re flattered that someone of Representative Moody’s stature would stoop to misrepresent us,” Heath said. “We pray it helps his book sales.”

Moody is the author of several books and is hoping to find a publisher for “McChurched! 300 Million Served and Still Hungry.”

In a forward to the book, Moody laments what he sees as a trend toward running churches as businesses, with clever marketing ploys and increasing political involvement.

Moody, who voted in favor of the initiative to add gays and lesbians to the Maine Human Rights Act, said he believes it’s disingenuous for Christians to oppose the law.