Hegseth Backs Group Dedicated To Full Christian Control Of U.S. Government

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches—commonly called the CREC—drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025.

CREC theology includes the belief that the Establishment Clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. I Photo: Trinity Reformed Church of Martinsburg

More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, whom they said was divinely appointed, Samuel Perry of Baylor University wrote for The Conversation.

Perry noted that prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists and maintain ultra-conservative positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality, and the separation of church and state.

The CREC is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson is the public figure most associated with the network of churches.

Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press, and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow.

Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curricula, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university—all of which were founded by Wilson and are associated with Christ Church.

All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with—or at war with—secular society.

The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology.

On its website, the CREC says that it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroy our doctrinal integrity.”

CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”

CREC theology includes the belief that the Establishment Clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state.

The CREC broadly asserts that the government—and anyone serving in it—should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians, and only Christians, are qualified to hold political office in the U.S.