LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 234

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234

found no evidence that Tom Bird murdered Sandy Bird or was ever
even at the bridge where Sandy died; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bird’s parents (Tom’s father, Ralph, is an
LCMS pastor), his three children, and Terry Bird, an LCMS school
teacher who married Tom Bird while he was in prison, remain con-
vinced that Tom Bird did not murder Sandy Bird; and

WHEREAS, Some authorities have said that Tom might now be
free if he had not insisted on his innocence and done some plea bar-
gaining; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bird wrote in an open letter titled “Tom Bird
Might Be in Prison for Life But He Will Be Free”: “I will not plead,
guilty to a reduced charge for my release from prison. Yes, I have a
terrific wife waiting for me. Yes, I have three lovely children who
want to be with their father. Yes, I am weary of prison life. But
truth is more important than freedom. If I would plead guilty to a
lesser charge I would be trading this Kansas prison for a much
worse prison: The prison of my own broken conscience. I would
rather do a life sentence. Whether it happens or not, I desire (and
deserve) a new trial to expose the lies presented by a number of
people during the last six years.

“Following the beautiful episode of Paul and Silas with the sal-
vation of the jailer at Philippi (Acts 16:25—34) there is a rarely ref-
erenced conclusion to Paul’s experience at Philippi: In the morning
the officials sent attendants and said, ‘Let those men go.’ The jailer
reported the message to Paul. ‘The officials sent word to let you
go’ He said, ‘Come out now and go in peace.’

But Paul told them, ‘They have beaten us publicly without try-
ing and condemning us, although we are Roman citizens, and have
put us in prison. And now they’re trying to put us out secretly? I
should say not! They should come themselves and take us out.’
(Beck, Acts 16:35-37) Note: In the original Greek, the words por-
tray a strong degree of scorn; see A. T. Robertson: A Grammar of
the Greek New Testament, p. 1187.

“I appreciate everyone’s interest and support in my case. I wish
to make it clear that I do not expect people to decide my guilt or in-
nocence. How could you, not knowing the facts of the case. But as
a Christian and as an American citizen, everyone could take a look
and see the unfairmess of my first trial and demand a new trial with
proof beyond a reasonable doubt “Like Paul would not accept ‘time
served’ for the accusation of inciting a riot, I too will not accept
‘time served’ in a secret deal. ‘I should say not!’ Paul chose to take
the risk of facing the magistrates instead of sure freedom. | will
also take that risk when my appeal is granted”; and

WHEREAS, “Murder Ordained,” a CBS miniseries on the Tom
Bird case has been repeatedly shown on TV stations throughout the
U.S. and in other countries; and

WHEREAS, CBS claimed to present the basic facts in the case,
leaving the impression that Tom Bird is the masked gunman who
murdered Martin Anderson; and

Wuereas, A jury found Tom Bird innocent of the murder of
Martin Anderson; and

WHEREAS, It was only after Christian News informed CBS that
Tom Bird was found innocent of the murder of Martin Anderson
and that there might be a possible Iawsuit if CBS continued to show
“Murder Ordained,” that CBS added a line mentioning the latest
ruling in the Anderson murder; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS’s Department of Evangelism has pub-
lished thousands of copies of Tom Bird’s “A Prisoner’s Reflec-
tions” and more than 5,000 videos of “Prison Is a Place” and “The
Heart of Prison,” directed in part by Tom Bird, have been distrib-
uted; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS urge the
members of the LCMS to pray that Tom Bird be granted a new trial
because of new evidence which has been discovered; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS ask President
A. L. Barry to appoint a committee of attorneys who will meet with
Rev. Ear] Bielefeld and other LCMS pastors who have studied the

HUMAN CARE

case to see whether there is something that can be done for Tom
Bird’s appeal finally to be heard.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Washington Circuit, Missoun
District

6-27

To Commend Commission on Sanctity of Life

WHEREAS, The President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life
has issued the statement “That They May Have Life”; and

WHEREAS, That statement is a fine exposition on the position of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod concerning the sanctity of
human life; and

WHEREAS, There is a need for this information to be dissemi-
nated to the Synod and the church at large; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Central Illinois District (CID) commend the
President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life for producing this
document; and be it further

Resolved, That the CID 1997 convention memorialize the
Synod’s 1998 convention to also commend the President’s Com-
mission on the Sanctity of Life; and be it finally

Resolved, That the CID 1997 convention memorialize the
Synod’s 1998 convention to encourage her congregations to study
and act on this document.

Central Iflinois District

6-28

To Reaffirm Sanctity of Human Life

WHEREAS, Abortion continues to be a legal choice for women
who want to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, although the Holy
Scriptures clearly teach that this killing of the unborn is an abomi-
nation to the Lord (Gen. 9:6; Prov. 6:16-17); and

WHEREAS, At the other end of life’s span individuals have en-
couraged assisted suicide for individuals facing terminal illness;
and

Wtereas, God is the author and perfecter of life and it is within
His wisdom to judge the quality and effectiveness of life; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Central Illinois District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in its 1997 convention reaffirm the
Synod’s position on the sanctity of human life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Central Illinois District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in its 1997 convention memorialize The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its 1998 convention to reaf-
firm the Synod’s position on the sanctity of human life; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, To encourage the congregations of the Synod to reaf-
firm the sanctity of human life through the teaching and preaching
ministry.

Central Illinois District

6-29

To Urge Synod to Establish Standing Committee
on Ministry to Disabled

WHEREAS, There are standing committees at the synodical level
for Deaf Ministry and Blind Ministry; and

WHEREAS, The March 1996 Reporter included a center section
on disability ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Minnesota South District in convention

1. commend the Synod for recognizing the importance of min-
istry by, with, and to people with disabilities; and

2. petition the Synod to establish a Standing Committee on Min-
istry to the Disabled under the Board for Human Care Ministries