Moral Concerns
On March 23 , 2018 Zell Miller died of Parkinson ’ s Disease in his home in Young Harris , Georgia . He is survived by three generations of family . I can remember him as Lt . Governor and Governor of Georgia , and U . S . senator appointed by the governor of Georgia when Senator Paul Coverdale passed while in office in July 2000 .
Zell Miller was a professional politician . In January 2003 our IPC attendees were on the annual bus trip to Washington , D . C . Our entourage was waiting to enter the Senate Office building to visit the senators and staff . And here comes Senator Miller . He was in an upbeat mood to attend another meeting , and he greeted us .
This was the first time for me to meet Zell Miller . The bus trip to Washington , D . C . is an annual event to raise the idea of making Roe v . Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion no longer legal . Although Senator Miller ’ s schedule was full on the January 2003 visit , he was open to a future visit in Washington , D . C . So the Moral Concerns committee recommended a visit to his office in January 2004 .
So in January of 2004 , our right-to-life group visited Miller in a Senate Office Building meeting room . He handed out some copies of a chapter in his book entitled A National Party No More : The Conscience of a Democrat , Chapter 11 , Abortion and A God Above . While some political leaders had started their political careers opposing abortion , over the years Zell Miller notes in his book many of them changed to pro-choice referring , including Bill Clinton , Jesse Jackson ,
Zell Miller ’ s Testimony
“ You have been my guide since I was first formed . . . from my mother ’ s womb you are my God .”
– Psalm 22:10-11
Al Gore , and Dick Gephardt .
Miller ’ s personal experiences were just the opposite . Some of the influence on abortion came from his mother , a pioneer in the women ’ s movement . His dad died when he was 17 days old , leaving his mother with him and his sister . Senator Miller did support the Roe v Wade decision until a lot of soul searching lured him to prayer and more observations . Although a woman should have the right to decide , Governor Miller took the position that public funds should not be used for abortion . Parents should be notified and consent obtained before a
on abortion back nine years to when his greatgrandchildren began to arrive . He prayed earnestly for God ’ s guidance on where he stood on abortion . minor could proceed . In 1997 as governor of Georgia , Zell signed a bill outlawing the terrible procedure of partial birth abortion .
In the 2003 meeting , the senator said he could trace the genesis of his evolving beliefs
Fast-forward a few years to Christmastime in the living room in Young Harris ; four great-grandchilren gather with the rest of a sizeable Miller family . The youngest generation is anxious to open their presents . This is a tender moment for Zell and Shirley Miller . Nineyear- old Jacob reads to his six-yearold brother , Joshua , and three-yearold sister , Mary , while one-year-old Jasmine is close by . Zell ’ s book concludes that he is grateful that younger Millers have escaped the 42 million abortions over the past 30 years . Zell remembers seeing his 20-year-old grandson carrying a sonogram of his yet unborn , but so alive daughter . This gave new meaning to the old Roberta Flack song “ The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face .”
“ You knit me in my mother ’ s womb . . . nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret .”
– Psalm 139:13,15
It was a combination of God ’ s hand on the born and unborn with prayer and scripture that converted Zell Miller to Christianity . Today we can thank God that Zell Miller ’ s radical change to a pro-life position reflects being a born again Christian . He realized the issue is not a simple matter , as Mr . Miller had said before his response to God , “ Leave the decision up to the woman , her God , and her doctor ." When Zell Miller died on March 23 , 2018 he passed into heaven believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the pro- life clarity he was delighted to share . We can be assured God is working amongst ourselves , and in people like Senator Miller , who for a time may not be prolife until God ' s call for salvation is received and anwered , wherever they are .
“ God … from my mother ’ s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace .”
St . Paul to the Galatians 1:15
— John Rigby Moral Concerns Committee
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