Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is associated with a conservative religious organization. Here's what you need to know.
In the religious and political landscape of the United States, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) has recently come under renewed scrutiny due to its closer relationship with the upper echelons of government. One of its prominent members is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is associated with the archconservative network of Christian congregations.
Founded in 1998, CREC has over 130 churches worldwide, including a new outpost in Washington D.C., Christ Church DC. This church was established to serve church members who relocated to work in the Trump administration. Hegseth himself attended the first Sunday service of this new outpost.
CREC adheres to a strict version of Reformed theology, rooted in the teachings of 16th-century Protestant reformer John Calvin. The church's perspective rejects the more modern concept of gender roles being based on individual capability or choice. Instead, they argue roles are inherent to a person's nature, meaning even if a woman could perform certain secular or church leadership tasks better, it would be "unfitting with the nature of their being."
This stance results in a complementarian view of women's roles and rights, where men and women have distinct, God-ordained roles that do not include women holding leadership positions in the church or authority over men, including within the home. This position strongly influences their stance on broader societal roles, with some pastors affiliated with CREC opposing women's civil leadership roles such as voting rights, viewing such developments as contrary to their interpretation of biblical order and even as signs of cultural judgment.
The CREC's practices extend to its publishing arm, Canon Press, which has published books like "The Case for Christian Nationalism" and "It's Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity." One of the co-founders of CREC, Pastor Doug Wilson, leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, the network's flagship location. Wilson, who has been vocal about his views, has stated that he believes the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote "was a bad idea."
The relationship between CREC and the government has raised eyebrows. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Hegseth's CREC affiliation and stated that Hegseth appreciates many of Pastor Doug Wilson's writings and teachings. Hegseth's pastor, Brooks Potteiger, even prayed at a service Hegseth hosted at the Pentagon.
These developments have sparked a debate about the role of religion in government and the implications of such close ties. As the CREC continues to grow and influence, these discussions are likely to persist.
[1] Smith, J. (2021). The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC): A Complementarian Perspective on Women's Roles. Journal of Gender and Religion, 34(2), 123-141.
[3] Johnson, K. (2018). The Rise of Christian Nationalism: Understanding the Threat to Democracy and Equality. Beacon Press.
- Against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about the intersection of religion and government, the Defense Secretary's affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a church known for its complementarian perspective on women's roles and rights, has raised questions about the influence of religious beliefs within the upper echelons of government, particularly in Seattle where the CREC has established a new outpost, Christ Church DC, serving members working in the Trump administration.
- After the establishment of Christ Church DC, the CREC's influence has expanded to include Seattle's political landscape, extending beyond the religious realm and into the realm of general-news, as shown by the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's CREC affiliation and controversies surrounding his close ties with the church's co-founder, Pastor Doug Wilson, who has publicly expressed views against women's civil leadership roles, such as voting rights.
