Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to an archconservative church network. Here's what to know
Hegseth recently made headlines when he shared a CNN video on social media about CREC, showing its pastors arguing women should not have the right to vote.
Pastor Doug Wilson, a CREC co-founder, leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, the network's flagship location. Jovial and media-friendly, Wilson is no stranger to stirring controversy with his church's hard-line theology and its embrace of patriarchy and Christian nationalism.
Wilson told the Associated Press on Monday he was grateful Hegseth shared the video. He noted Hegseth's post was labeled with Christ Church's motto: 'All of Christ for All of Life.'
'He was, in effect, reposting it and saying, 'Amen,' at some level,' Wilson said.
Hegseth, among President Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks, attends Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, a CREC member church in a suburb outside Nashville, Tennessee. His pastor, Brooks Potteiger, prayed at a service Hegseth hosted at the Pentagon.
CREC recently opened a new outpost in the nation's capital, Christ Church DC, with Hegseth attending its first Sunday service.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Hegseth's CREC affiliation and told the AP that Hegseth 'very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings.'
Here are other things to know about the church network:
Wilson's church and wider denomination practice complementarianism, the patriarchal idea that men and women have different God-given roles. Women within CREC churches cannot hold church leadership positions, and married women are to submit to their husbands.
Wilson told the AP he believes the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote 'was a bad idea.' Still, he said his wife and daughters vote.
He would prefer the United States follow his church's example, which allows heads of households to vote in church elections. Unmarried women qualify as voting members in his church.
'Ordinarily, the vote is cast by the head of the household, the husband and father, because we're patriarchal and not egalitarian,' Wilson said. He added that repealing the 19th Amendment is not high on his list of priorities.
Hegseth's views on women have been in the spotlight, especially after he faced sexual assault allegations, for which no charges were filed. Before his nomination to lead the Defense Department, Hegseth had questioned women serving in combat roles in the military.
Wilson, a Navy veteran who served on submarines, also questions women serving in some military roles.
'I think we ought to find out the name of the person who suggested that we put women on those submarines and have that man committed,' Wilson said. 'It's like having a playpen that you put 50 cats in and then drop catnip in the middle of it. Whatever happens is going to be ugly. And if you think it's going to advance the cause of women and make sailors start treating women less like objects, then you haven't been around the block very many times.'
Founded in 1998, CREC is a network of more than 130 churches in the United States and around the world.
CREC ascribes to a strict version of Reformed theology — rooted in the tradition of 16th-century Protestant reformer John Calvin — that puts a heavy emphasis on an all-powerful God who has dominion over all of society.
Wilson and CREC are also strongly influenced by a 20th-century Reformed movement called Christian Reconstructionism, according to Julie Ingersoll, a religion professor at the University of North Florida who wrote about it in her 2015 book 'Building God's Kingdom.'
She sees that theology reflected in the Wilson slogan Hegseth repeated on social media.
'When he says, 'All of life,' he's referencing the idea that it's the job of Christians to exercise dominion over the whole world,' Ingersoll said.
Since the 1970s, Wilson's ministry and influence have grown to include the Association of Christian Classical Schools and New Saint Andrew's College in Moscow, Idaho.
The ministry has a robust media presence, including Canon Press, publisher of books like 'The Case for Christian Nationalism' and 'It's Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity.'
Wilson wants the United States to be a Christian nation. He does not mind being called a Christian nationalist.
'I am more than happy to work with that label because it's a better label than what I usually get called,' Wilson said.
'If I get called a white nationalist or a theo-fascist or a racist bigot, misogynist thug, I can't work with them except to deny them,' he said. 'I'm a Christian, and I'm a patriot who loves my country. How do I combine those two things? How do they work together?'
U.S. Christian nationalism is a fusion of American and Christian identity, principles and symbols that typically seeks a privileged place for Christian people and ideas. Wilson contends that early America was Christian, a notion historians dispute.
'If we succeed, this will be Christian America 2.0,' Wilson wrote in 2022.
American Christian nationalism involves overlapping movements. Among them are evangelicals who view Trump, a Republican, as a champion, some of whom are influenced by Christian Reconstructionist ideas; a charismatic movement that sees politics as part of a larger spiritual war; and a Catholic postliberal movement envisioning a muscular government promoting traditional morality.
CREC now has a closer relationship to the upper echelons of government. This has renewed scrutiny of Wilson's other controversial views, including his downplaying of the horrors of Southern slavery in the U.S. But it's also given Wilson a bigger stage.
Hegseth and Wilson have spoken approvingly of each other. Wilson said they have only met in person once, when they talked informally after Wilson preached at Hegseth's home church in Tennessee this year.
Wilson said CREC's new Washington church began as a way to serve church members who relocated to work in the Trump administration.
'This is the first time we've had connections with as many people in national government as we do now,' Wilson said. 'But this is not an ecclesiastical lobbying effort where we're trying to meet important people. We're trying to give some of these people an opportunity to meet with God.'
Stanley and Smith write for the Associated Press. Smith reported from Pittsburgh.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Judge blocks Arkansas Ten Commandments law in 4 NWA school districts
Editor's note: The headline, URL and content of this story were corrected to reflect that the judge temporarily blocked the law from taking effect in four districts (not in the entire state). A federal judge Aug. 4 temporarily blocked in four school districts an Arkansas law that now requires public school classrooms to prominently display the Ten Commandments. Why it matters: Some supporters of the change see the Ten Commandments as a historical document that helped shape U.S. law, but the plaintiffs in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Siloam Springs argue that displaying the document in public schools infringes on their constitutional right to freedom of religion. State of play: Arkansas Act 573, passed by the state Legislature this year and signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, requires that every "public institution of higher education and elementary and secondary school library and classroom in the state" prominently display a copy of the "historical representation of the Ten Commandments." The posters areto be at least 16 inches by 20 inches and in a legible typeface. All copies are to be donated or purchased through private funds, but if a donated copy doesn't meet the requirements, the school can replace it using public funds. The big picture: In his ruling, U.S. Western District of Arkansas Judge Timothy Brooks cited similar laws in nearby Louisiana and Texas. The Louisiana law has been declared unconstitutional, and the Texas law is being challenged, though a ruling hasn't yet been declared. Oklahoma's state superintendent issued guidelines last year that every classroom have a copy of the Bible and the Ten Commandments and that teachers should include the documents in the curriculum. The guidance is being challenged. At least 15 other states had proposed some form of the law as of February. What they're saying: "Forty-five years ago, the Supreme Court struck down a Ten Commandments law nearly identical to the one the Arkansas General Assembly passed earlier this year. That precedent remains binding on this Court and renders Arkansas Act 573 plainly unconstitutional," Brooks wrote in the ruling. "Why would Arkansas pass an obviously unconstitutional law? Most likely because the State is part of a coordinated strategy among several states to inject Christian religious doctrine into public-school classrooms." The other side: "In Arkansas, we do in fact believe that murder is wrong and stealing is bad. It is entirely appropriate to display the Ten Commandments — the basis of all Western law and morality — as a reminder to students, state employees, and every Arkansan who enters a government building," Sanders said in a statement emailed to Axios. Several state lawmakers sponsoring the bill did not immediately respond to Axios' inquiries.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
All 800 National Guard troops officially deployed in DC amid Trump's federal takeover
The Pentagon announced on Thursday that all 800 National Guard personnel sent to aid Washington D.C., law enforcement in US President Donald Trump's federal takeover have been deployed, officially starting Trump's second stationing of troops against a state governor's wishes. All 800 National Guard troops who were ordered to the US capital Washington to aid law enforcement personnel by President Donald Trump have now been mobilized, the Pentagon said Thursday. Trump ordered the deployment -- which follows a similar move during protests in Los Angeles in June -- as part of what he billed as a crackdown on crime in Washington, where violent offenses are in fact down. "As of today, all 800 Army and Air National Guardsmen are mobilized... as part of Joint Task Force DC, and they are now here in our capital," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told journalists. They "will assist the DC Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and officers" and traffic control posts, Wilson said. Read moreTrump's federal takeover begins as National Guard arrives in Washington The troops "will remain until law and order has been restored in the District, as determined by the president," she added. The US Army later said the National Guard's initial mission "is to provide a visible presence in key public areas, serving as a visible crime deterrent." "They will not arrest, search, or direct law enforcement," but they "have the authority to temporarily detain individuals to prevent imminent harm," the Army said in a statement. The troops will be equipped with protective gear, it added, saying that weapons would be available if needed but would remain in the armory. Trump announced the National Guard deployment -- along with a federal takeover of the city's police department -- on Monday, vowing "to take our capital back." The overwhelmingly Democratic US capital faces allegations from Republican politicians that it is overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness and financially mismanaged. However, data from Washington police shows significant drops in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, although that was coming off the back of a post-pandemic surge. The deployment of troops in Washington comes after Trump dispatched the National Guard and Marines to quell unrest in Los Angeles, California, that was spurred by immigration enforcement raids. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor. Most National Guard forces answer to state governors and have to be "federalized" to be brought under presidential control, but in Washington these troops already report only to the US president. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Police chief orders more cooperation with immigration agents as federal activity takes root in D.C.
WASHINGTON — The Washington, D.C., police chief stepped up cooperation between her officers and federal immigration officials as President Trump's law enforcement takeover of the nation's capital took root Thursday. National Guard troops watched over some of the world's most renowned landmarks, and Humvees took up position in front of the busy main train station. The police chief's order establishes that Metropolitan Police Department officers may now share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody — such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint. MPD officers may also provide 'transportation for federal immigration employees and detained subject,' the order states. The changes, which raise collaboration between the two forces in notable ways, erodes the district's long-standing policy against cooperating with civil immigration enforcement. They are effective immediately. Mayor Muriel Bowser, walking a tightrope between the Republican White House and the constituency of her largely Democratic city, was out of town Thursday for a family commitment in Martha's Vineyard but would be back Friday, her office said. In a city tense from days of ramp-up toward federal law enforcement intervention, volunteers helped homeless people leave long-standing encampments — to where, exactly, was often unclear. Trump told reporters that he was pleased at how the operation — and, now, its direct link with his immigration-control efforts — was unfolding. 'That's a very positive thing, I have heard that just happened,' Trump said of Police Chief Pamela Smith's order. 'That's a great step. That's a great step if they're doing that.' For an already wary Washington, Thursday marked a notable — and highly visible — uptick in presence from the previous two days. The visibility of federal forces around the city, including in many high-traffic areas, was striking to residents going about their lives. Trump has the power to take over federal law enforcement for 30 days before his actions must be reviewed by Congress, though he has said he'll reevaluate as that deadline approaches. The response before Thursday had been gradual and, by all appearances, low key. But on Wednesday night, officers set up a checkpoint in one of D.C.'s popular nightlife areas, drawing protests. The White House said 45 arrests were made Wednesday night, with 29 people arrested for living in the country illegally; other arrests included for distribution or possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon and assaulting a federal officer. Troops were stationed outside the Union Station transportation hub as the 800 Guard members who have been activated by Trump start in on missions that include monument security, community safety patrols and beautification efforts, the Pentagon said. 'They will remain until law and order has been restored in the District as determined by the president, standing as the gatekeepers of our great nation's capital,' Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. 'The National Guard is uniquely qualified for this mission as a community-based force with strong local ties and disciplined training.' Wilson said the troops won't be armed and declined to give more details on what the safety patrols or beautification efforts would entail or how many Guard members have already been sent out on the streets. National Guard Major Micah Maxwell said troops will assist law enforcement in a variety of roles, including traffic control posts and crowd control. The Guard members have been trained in de-escalation tactics and crowd control equipment, Maxwell said. The White House said Thursday that Guard members aren't making arrests but are 'protecting federal assets, providing a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests and deterring violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.' Although the current deployment is taking place under unprecedented circumstances, National Guard troops are a semi-regular presence in D.C., typically being used during mass public events like the annual Fourth of July celebration. They have regularly been used in the past for crowd control in and around Metro stations. Trump on Thursday denied that the federal law enforcement officials he sent into Washington's streets to fight crime have been diverted from priority assignments like counterterrorism. Asked if he was concerned about that, Trump said he's using a 'very small force' of soldiers and that city police are now allowed to do their job properly amidst his security lockdown. Meanwhile, about a dozen homeless residents in Washington packed up their belongings with help from volunteers from charitable groups and staffers from some city agencies. Items largely were not forcibly thrown out by law enforcement, but a garbage truck idled nearby. Several protesters held signs close by, some critical of the Trump administration. Once the residents had left, a construction vehicle from a city agency cleared through the remains of the tents. The departures were voluntary, but they came in response to a clear threat from the Trump administration. Advocates expect law enforcement officers to fan out across D.C. in the coming days to forcibly take down any remaining homeless encampments. In Washington Circle, which still contains a few tents, city workers put up signs announcing 'general cleanup of this public space' starting at 10 a.m. Monday. For two days, small groups of federal officers have been visible in scattered parts of the city. But more were present in high-profile locations Wednesday night, and troops were expected to start doing more missions Thursday. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations have patrolled the popular U Street corridor, while Drug Enforcement Administration officers were seen on the National Mall, with Guard members parked nearby. DEA agents also joined MPD officers on patrol in the Navy Yard neighborhood, while FBI agents stood along the heavily trafficked Massachusetts Avenue. Khalil writes for the Associated Press. Associated Press journalists Jacquelyn Martin, Mike Pesoli, Darlene Superville and David Klepper contributed to this report.
