A religious leader's push for Christians to rule during Trump's era
A Rising Christian Nationalist Pastor Expands His Reach in Washington D.C.
Doug Wilson, a conservative Reformed evangelical pastor and theologian, has found a growing audience among mainstream Republicans, particularly during the Trump administration. Wilson is the head of Christ Church Washington D.C., a new church located just three blocks from the US Capitol, and an extension of the CREC church he leads in Moscow, Idaho.
The inaugural service of Christ Church Washington D.C. was attended by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his family, signifying Wilson's influence within Republican political circles. The building is owned by the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), a think tank co-led by Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to President Donald Trump.
Wilson is part of an ascending group of Christian religious leaders finding influence among MAGA conservatives, often known as the "Theo Bros." He is a self-described Christian nationalist pastor who advocates for a Christian theocratic order in America. Wilson seeks to see towns, states, and the nation itself become distinctly Christian under a strict interpretation of the Bible, aiming for what he terms "global Christian domination."
Theologically, Wilson is known for his adherence to biblical patriarchy, arguing that wives should submit to their husbands and that church leadership should be restricted to men. His teachings have been controversial, particularly his views associated with the Federal Vision theology, which have been labeled heretical by some Reformed bodies because of their departures from traditional Reformed doctrine.
Politically, Wilson's promotion of Christian nationalism has moved from the fringes of the religious right into a more mainstream Republican audience. He openly states a preference for theocratic governance, arguing that all societies are theocratic by nature; the real question is whose God or theology governs. He rejects labels like white nationalist or racist but embraces "Christian nationalist" as a more precise descriptor of his views.
Wilson's church in Moscow, Idaho, has grown into an international network of over 150 churches, schools, a college, and a publishing company. The Canon Press building, the publishing arm of Wilson's empire, is located near Christ Church in Moscow. Wilson started New Saint Andrews College in the 1990s, a small four-year college located in Moscow, Idaho.
Wilson's views include a patriarchal society where women are expected to submit to their husbands, repealing the 19th Amendment, outlawing abortion, and criminalizing homosexuality. He is a postmillennialist, meaning he believes it's the job of Christians to build the kingdom of God on Earth in order to bring about the second coming of Christ.
Wilson's church has experienced growth due to the Covid pandemic and government response, with people being "chased" to the church by blue-state governors, Covid restrictions, and pastors who closed their churches. Wilson has three grown children who are all members of the CREC church.
Wilson became the head preacher of the fledgling church after about a year-and-a-half when the regular preacher moved to a new city. His father, an evangelist, founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho in the 1970s. The CREC network now has more than 400 classical Christian schools across the US.
Wilson's church in Moscow, Idaho, has faced legal challenges. The Department of Justice intervened on behalf of Wilson's church in a lawsuit against the town of Troy, Idaho, regarding the operation of a former bank building.
Wilson's rhetoric and movement have drawn criticism and security concerns, demonstrating the contentious nature of his influence both inside and outside conservative evangelicalism. Despite the controversy, Wilson's influence continues to grow, with his church and associated institutions expanding in Washington D.C. and beyond.
1. Doug Wilson, the self-described Christian nationalist pastor, has expressed his political views by advocating for a Christian theocratic order and seeking to see towns, states, and the nation itself become distinctly Christian under a strict interpretation of the Bible.
2. The growing audience for Wilson's ideologies includes mainstream Republicans, as evidenced by the attendance of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the inaugural service of Christ Church Washington D.C., a think tank co-led by Mark Meadows, and the expansion of Wilson's church and associated institutions in Washington D.C. and beyond.
