Historical Audit on Slavery by Anna Stamborski https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx Please post anonymously. Feel free to respond to any and all questions. Please be mindful of the impact of your comments on others around in our community. 1. what was your reaction to reading the audit? 2. what was something that surprised you? 3. what was that disappointed you? 4. what is something that encouraged you? 5. what are some questions you have? 6. how do you think PTS is called to respond due to knowing a bit of our history better? en-us 2020-08-31 14:20:38 UTC 2025-12-01 21:58:33 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f465.png Response annastamborski https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/709398115 1. it was tough to read it... it was tough to see how people who, assumedly, had the Holy Spirit were still able to justify enslaving others. It makes me wonder what oppression we justify today...
2. I was surprised to learn about the types of students who were abolitionists vs. reformists vs. justified it
4. I was encouraged to see that when many thought slavery was okay there were at least a few white folks who were abolitionists
5. what else did we miss out on this internal audit (it was done by PTS, not an outside source)
6. we need to be actively involved in making PTS a space were ALL people can thrive, not just be 'welcoming'. There needs to be work done to honor those in the Witherspoon neighborhood who housed and fed Black students when they weren't allowed to live/eat on campus. I'd like to see more transparency in the endowment and how we're investing our money. We can't continue to invest in unethical sources to fund our studies + seminary.]]> 2020-08-31 16:47:45 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/709398115 Constance Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710310528 1. I wasn't surprised that church leaders participated with slavery. I would've been more surprised if they hadn't.  
2. I was very surprised at the belief that formerly enslaved people  could not live in harmony with those who previously owned them.  Also, that this movement started Liberia.
3. The belief system discussed in #2 really disappointed me because that response came from fear.  The fear that the mistreatment visited on enslaved people would be visited on them.  
4.  I as encouraged the PTSEM would undertake this endeavor and share the findings publicly. 
5.  No questions come to mind
6. I believe PTS is called to face, acknowledge and then correct the actions of the past. I believe the willingness to share the findings of the audit can encourage other seminaries and denominations to do the same. There is peace and power in acknowledging a wrong and seeking to right it.]]> 2020-08-31 23:12:09 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710310528 Anonymous matthewvannorstran https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710468856 1.) The quality of the audit was well crafted, professional, and highly readable; though of course the content itself remained troubling.
2.) What provided the most surprise was the degree to which even the most esteemed affiliates of PTS still held deeply prejudiced views of the colored community and were varyingly involved with the practice of slavery while claiming values and standards which supposedly opposed it.
3.) The disappointment was certainly packaged alongside the surprise of contradiction in the praxis and pathos of founding or influential figures in association and involvement with PTS.
4.) Encouragement comes from the fruits of confession and repentance which are evident in the presentation of the audit material, as well as all proposed and presently instated actions of restitutive reconciliation within the faith community of the Seminary.
5.) Have any other seminaries within historical and localized proximity produced audits akin to that of PTS, and if so, how do they compare?
6.) A response of intentional memorialization for those figures who withstood or overcame the evils of their day as based on the same theological convictions which drive us upon the course we are taking presently.]]> 2020-09-01 00:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710468856 Historical Audit on Slavery Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710502406 1. I was grateful to see how the seminary is being open bout their past instead of ignoring what had occurred. It was difficult to read about the ties between church leaders and slavery, even more so how these leaders justified their actions. 
2. I was surprised at the honesty PTSEM has with it's past. Not many institutions would do something like this, but it is refreshing seeing this form of honesty and education. This institution is learning about the past and moving forward with intents to teach others the true history if PTSEM. Within the history I was surprised at the justification of slavery by church leaders. The faith that the leaders shared contradicted their affiliation with slavery and yet still it was justified and at that time in history seemed right.
3. My disappointment comes in acknowledging that some of the founding and most known leaders of this institution shared the same rhetoric. 
4. Learning about the past in order to make a difference in the future. I am encouraged in knowing that PTS is doing it's part in learning and teaching the past, acknowledging the false believes and false justifications, working to reconcile relationships and create new opportunities.
5. How many other institutions have done an audit similar to this? 
6. PTS has began by renaming their library, but aside from renaming buildings, the audit was made public. I think that is the first step in the right direction. The next step should be to offer more opportunities to POC to be a part of the institution. ]]> 2020-09-01 01:17:53 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710502406 Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710545036 1. what was your reaction to reading the audit?  
Very much impressed by the honesty and humility PTS has in not only doing work of making the historical audit, but also making it public and taking actions to repent for the history of this institution.  
2. what was something that surprised you?  
I am both surprised and impressed that an institution would choose to be so honest and forth coming with their history and connections to slavery. I’ve often found that places of higher learning want to push away their past and bury it out of shame. But I am really taken back and pleased by the fact that PTS doesn’t want to deal with their past by pretending it didn’t happen. The motion towards confession and repentance is really powerful! 
3. what was that disappointed you?  
I think just the pervasiveness of racism in the roots of most institutions in this country. And how closely linked Christianity is with racism, violent colonialism, imperialism, and just blatant bigotry in our country.  
4. what is something that encouraged you? 
That PTS is being active and pro-active in doing something about knowing their history as an institution.  
 5. what are some questions you have?  
Has PTS done work to engage with topics regarding the displacement of indigenous peoples in this area?  
6. how do you think PTS is called to respond due to knowing a bit of our history better? 
I think earnest repentance that is matched with action. Renaming buildings that currently honor figures that partook in slavery in one way or another, being contentious of not burdening the BIPOC community with the responsibility of teaching others or enacting change, but with that also listening to the needs of the BIPOC community to thrive in this environment.  
]]> 2020-09-01 01:42:28 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710545036 Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710621800 1. I wasn't surprised at all to find out that the seminary had ties to slavery, both as an institution and through faculty and alumni. I'm glad that they made it very accessible both in language/format and distribution.
2. I was surprised at how thorough the audit was - looking at not only the institution's construction and operation, but alumni and faculty and their involvements, investments and sources of income, and the greater contexts of the borough of Princeton and the Presbyterian General Assembly as well. Because of where I went to college, I've become very accustomed to institutions only reporting the bare minimum in any "investigation" to make themselves look better, so this was a pleasant surprise.
3. What disappointed me was finding out the ideologies and hearing the rhetoric of some of the most well-known figures in PTS's founding, especially Miller. I actually had to close my laptop and walk away for a moment when reading some of his statements.
4. Something that encouraged me is that PTS is going beyond the confession stage, and is actually actively attempting to repent and make amends for some of the harm caused by its involvement in slavery and the ideologies many of its faculty espoused. Also, they didn't try to justify or brush off those ideologies by just saying they were a product of the time - they provided the context, but also affirmed that these ideologies were not right regardless of context.
5. Did anyone else know little to nothing about the Colonization Project before reading this?
What is the general consensus on potentially renaming buildings named after slaveholders/users like Hodge, Miller, and Alexander? (I personally would feel a little bit icky going to Miller Chapel for worship, now that I know what the guy thought about free African Americans.)
6. I second a lot of responses here - earnest repentance needs to be paired with action that results in tangible change. I would personally like to see Black and other POC continue to be as involved as they have been in the decision making process of these changes, while keeping in mind that they should not be burdened with always being the educators or the only driving force in this.]]> 2020-09-01 02:28:07 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/710621800 Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/712222924  1. I was happy to see PTS do something like this especially within the context of making confession and repentance of past sins. So often I've seen white people and institutions that are white majority shirk their responsibility to make repentance of white supremacist pasts. It can be very easy to say, "well that was them, no us" so taking ownership seems like a step in the right direction but obviously the matter is much more complicated than just this.
2. I don't know if surprised is the right word but the movement to send Black people to Liberia with the mindset of colonizing it for Christ was really disturbing. As the audit stated "the lack of theological imagination" to think that Black and white people could not peaceably coexist is so profoundly disappointing. And we see how this mindset evolved into such things as segregation, Jim Crow laws, etc.
3. When the audit came out I was following the ABS response to the audit and was disappointed that I haven't heard much from PTS in terms of responding to the ABS concerns/acknowledgments that some of these things feel like symbols rather than restorative justice. Although there may have been non-public dialogue that I am unaware of.
4. The fact that this audit exists and existed before the recent events which have heightened conversations about race relations gives me hope that this is a genuine desire of PTS to create a better future. 
5. what are some questions you have? 
I am curious about PTS ties to not just slavery but it's reception of things such as segregation, among other institutions within the U.S. designed to oppress POC. I would also be interested to see the Seminary explore it's historic relationships with other POC including Indigenous People.
6. As a white person I honestly am not sure what the right response is and want to learn to better listen to POC in hearing their needs first and then acting out of those crucial conversations. That is not to say that it is POC's responsibility to carry the load of reconciliation for white people but that we shouldn't act out of arrogance and assume that we know what the community of POC needs.]]> 2020-09-01 16:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/712222924 Response https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/713122407 1. Tough to read. But glad to see those powers that be showing such concern for our history.
2. Honestly? Not much. Which is sad. No surprise as much as disturbed and saddened.
3. So very disappointed to learn that some of PTS's most revered figures, like Miller, Alexander, etc., were some of the worst offenders. Disappointing when such leaders come crashing down from their pedestals.
4. I am encouraged by the response of PTS today, as well as the community as a whole. The naming of new buildings, the efforts to make the information more widely known, all of this gives me hope.
5. My 5 and 6 kind of go together. I just wonder if they will give any thought to changing the names of buildings already named. Like Miller Chapel. Which makes me sad to even type, because...it's Miller Chapel. But I wonder if it would be good for the seminary and for our black brothers and sisters as another way of moving forward.]]> 2020-09-01 19:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/annastamborski/rsc00ugs76vfdjtx/wish/713122407