Iliff School of Theology was the subject of a TV documentary about a controversial book owned by the institution’s library and the complex process necessary to come to terms with its legacy in dialogue with Native American leaders in the United States.
This process involves a book on History of Christianity, published in Latin in 1752, which eventually received a cover made of the skin of a murdered Native American. According to research done at the Iliff, this was the result of a crime committed in 1779, when a white farmer who was occupying Lenape land in Western Virginia, in the United States, killed two Native Americans because they were “walking across what he considered his own property.” The skin of one of the Lenape natives was flayed, “so that it could be some sort of a trophy or a treasure,” as George “Tink” Tinker and his wife Loring Abeyta – two faculty members at Iliff – recounted to the TV channel Rocky Mountain PBS. Later on, the skin of the Lenape victim was used to bind the book, which was treasured by the farmer’s family and was then owned by a Methodist minister, R.M. Barns, who moved to Colorado. Barns donated the book to Iliff School of Theology in 1893, where the object was proudly displayed in a glass case at the entrance to the library at the seminary, being in possession of the institution for 129 years.
An article in 1934 described the book and its cover as “finer than the finest vellum” and praised the skin’s “smoothness and texture equal [to] the finest parchment.” The article also called the volume “one of the most treasured relics in the library of the Iliff School of Theology” and a “priceless vestment for the teachings of brotherly love.” In 1974, the book drew another kind of attention because students at the Iliff School of Theology protested against the display, questioned the institution’s position, and reached out to local American Indian Movement representatives. As a result, there were discussions and initiatives in secrecy, including the act of severing the cover from the book, keeping them away from the public, addressing the matter through legal procedures, and forbidding any discussion about the subject. Nevertheless, the issue continue to be discussed in various circles. In 1996, the book was the subject of discussion during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, which was meeting in Denver, Colorado. This was the first time The Rev. Dr. Thomas Wolfe – the current President of IAMSCU – learned about this matter. In 2013, as he was chosen as President of Iliff School of Theology, he decided that the institution needed to deal with the issues prompted by the book.
This story became known and the book became a controversial subject for decades. Coming to terms with the history of this book required a complex process, especially as Iliff School of Theology became recognized for its progressive emphasis on peace, justice, and ethics, which are values in blatant contradiction to the tragic and grotesque facts surrounding the book. With the help of George “Tink” Tinker, Thomas Wolfe initiated a process to face and address the legacy of the book, the way it represented racism and colonialism, and how it affected Native Americans directly, especially the Lenape People. As part of this process, Iliff Theological School held two conferences to address the controversial issues in relation to this book. The first was in March 2019, featuring six Native American speakers discussing the issue, while non-native participants were limited to listening. The second conference was held in October of 2019, with presentations from Native American scholars.
These conferences and complementary conversations led to a gathering of cultures, sharing of perspectives, and searching for a path forward which may contribute to accountability and understanding. For Wolfe, many institutions are currently trying to come to terms with their ties to colonialism, the Confederacy, and many other forms of white supremacism which need to be questioned. Therefore, having a public discussion about this case at Iliff School of Theology may also shed light and offer an opportunity for Iliff and other institutions to tell the truth about their past and search for conciliation with those who were historical victims of past and current atrocities. In his view, we need to “be honest about it and talk about it and live into it.”
The experience of Iliff School of Theology in dealing with this matter and the lessons being learned throughout this process are the subject of a special documentary by the TV channel Rocky Mountain PBS as well as articles in various venues. Watch the documentary on PBS and read the articles published on the PBS website and on the United Methodist New Service.