Episode 5: Widow Dena Arrison Speaks Out | How Princeton Theological Seminary Took Her Land

In this powerful conclusion to the series, Dr. John Hnatio and Dena Arrison summarize the shocking events of her decades-long battle against Princeton Theological Seminary. From the start, Dena’s own lawyer—Barbara Nelson of Stark & Stark—helped the Seminary defraud her of her property. She recounts being evicted, her personal belongings disappearing, and being unable to attend a crucial court case due to a broken hip—only to have the judge refuse to move the case to a higher court.
The devastation continued: two other lawyers failed her, her beloved cat Midnight died, and the Seminary failed to file the IRS Form 8283 for her donation, saddling her with a $557,000 IRS bill. Her passport was revoked, and she was placed on the no-fly list.
In the end, the Seminary’s response to making things right was a simple, “NO.” This episode asks the question every church should—What would Jesus do?—and challenges the institution to truly live by the faith it teaches.