Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny over his ties to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), as his public rhetoric and the presence of the denomination’s leaders at the Pentagon raise questions about the influence of Pete Hegseth and Christian nationalism within the U.S. military.
- Secretary Hegseth has aligned himself with CREC, a denomination whose leaders advocate for a theocratic program and the application of biblical law in courts.
- CREC-affiliated pastors have been granted platforms to lead worship services at the Pentagon.
- The denomination’s leadership has openly embraced “Christian nationalism” and advocated for the enforcement of Old Testament laws.
During an April 17 briefing on the Iran war, Hegseth compared the U.S. press corps to the Pharisees described in Mark 3, accusing the “legacy Trump-hating press” of a “politically motivated animus” that blinds them to the “brilliance of our American warriors.”
The remarks mirror a sermon delivered on April 12 at Christ Kirk DC, a Washington branch of the CREC, titled “The Fellowship of Grievance.” In that service, Dr. Benjamin Merkle, president of New Saint Andrews College and son-in-law of CREC co-founder Douglas Wilson, exhorted worshippers to embrace a “biblically informed hatred.”
Merkle told the press that while he was making a “human observation” regarding the Pharisees, Hegseth’s application of the principle could be “very appropriate.” He further argued that believers should “detest what is evil,” stating that he considers abortion and homosexuality to be evil.
The Influence of CREC and Christian Nationalism
CREC founder Douglas Wilson has explicitly described himself as a Christian nationalist. Wilson and his church teach that civil authorities should enforce Old Testament law, asserting that both abortion and homosexuality warrant the death penalty under that legal framework.
Julie Ingersoll, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Florida, stated that the CREC view allows for no neutrality between church and state, religion and the courts, or religion and the military.
The influence of the denomination has extended into the Pentagon through worship services initiated by Hegseth. Brooks Potteiger, a CREC pastor and spiritual adviser to Hegseth, presided over the first monthly worship service at the Pentagon in May 2025 and returned in January 2026.
In February, Douglas Wilson also presided over a Pentagon worship service shortly before the U.S. joined Israel in attacks on Iran. Potteiger previously drew attention for remarks on a podcast where he stated a Democratic senate candidate should be “crucified with Christ,” which he later clarified as a reference to spiritual conversion.
Hegseth’s own public language has increasingly mirrored these beliefs. In March, he described the U.S. and other Western nations as “Christian nations under God” and called for the American people to pray for troops “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
During a March 25 Pentagon service, Hegseth read from Psalm 18 and prayed that God would “break the teeth” of U.S. enemies. These actions follow Hegseth’s previous statements that joining a CREC church changed his “whole view of the world.”
Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, expressed concern over the “infusion of his Christian beliefs as the basis for our war in Iran,” arguing that national security should not be based on “fanatical holy war fantasies.”
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that Hegseth is a proud member of a church affiliated with the CREC and appreciates the writings and teachings of Douglas Wilson.
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