Pete Hegseth's Church Network Wants a Christian Theocracy -- And He's Bringing That Vision to the Pentagon

When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood before military personnel in March 2026 and prayed for "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy," he wasn't just offering spiritual support. He was channeling the theology of his church network -- one that explicitly rejects religious pluralism and calls for a Christian theocratic state.

Hegseth is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a network of over 160 congregations spread across multiple continents. The CREC's leadership openly advocates for implementing biblical law and structuring government around what they call "Christian patriarchy." Their vision isn't metaphorical -- they want Christians, and only Christians, running the country.

The Man Behind the Movement

The CREC was co-founded in 1993 by Doug Wilson, an Idaho pastor who has built a religious empire in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson runs Christ Church, which serves as the network's flagship congregation and operates a private school system, publishing house, and college -- all promoting the view that Christians are at war with secular society.

Wilson's influence on Hegseth is direct. In February 2026, Hegseth invited Wilson to lead a prayer service at the Pentagon, where Wilson told assembled military members that "all the devil's R&D teams have not come up with armor-piercing anything" that could penetrate faith in Jesus Christ. The message was clear: military enemies are agents of the devil, and Christian faith is the ultimate weapon.

The two men have spoken approvingly of one another, and Wilson's theology appears to shape Hegseth's public statements. When Hegseth prayed for rounds to "find their mark against the enemies of righteousness," he was using language straight from the CREC playbook -- framing military conflict as holy war.

No Separation Between Church and State

The CREC doesn't believe in the constitutional separation of church and state. According to scholar Julie Ingersoll, in this religious community "there is no distinction between religious issues and political ones."

Wilson has stated plainly that only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States. On the CREC website, the network says it is "committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity."

This isn't about personal faith informing public service. The CREC doctrine explicitly opposes religious pluralism and any political viewpoint that diverges from its theology. Wilson has said of his hometown, "Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town" -- and the network is working to replicate that model across the country through aggressive "church planting."

A History of Extremism and Abuse

The CREC's controversial positions extend beyond politics. In 1996, Wilson published a book positively depicting slavery, claiming it cultivated "affection among the races." The network also adheres to extreme patriarchal views -- Wilson has described sexual relationships as scenarios where "a woman receives, surrenders, accepts."

Multiple women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse within CREC churches and claims that church leadership mishandled or covered up those allegations. Vice Media's Sarah Stankorb interviewed numerous women who described a culture where sexual abuse and assault in marriage was common. Wilson has denied wrongdoing and said abuse claims would be directed to authorities, but the pattern of allegations raises serious questions about accountability within the network.

From Theology to Policy

Hegseth's actions as defense secretary reflect CREC theology in concrete ways. His moves in May and June 2025 to ban transgender people from military service and strip protections for LGBTQ service members align with the network's rigid views on gender and sexuality.

Scholar Matthew Taylor explained the CREC's worldview to the Nashville Tennessean: "They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world."

That militant vision now has a foothold at the highest levels of the U.S. military. When the secretary of defense frames military operations as battles against "enemies of righteousness" and invites pastors who describe opponents as agents of Satan, he's not offering comfort to troops -- he's imposing a theocratic worldview on the armed forces.

The CREC may not have the name recognition of major evangelical denominations, but its influence is growing. With a member now running the Pentagon and framing military action in explicitly religious terms, Americans should understand exactly what this church network believes -- and what it wants for the country.