Pete Hegseth’s Nomination Marks a Significant Moment for the Right-Wing Christian Movement He Represents
For the conservative, theologically-inclined church community that backs him, Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s selection as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense is seen as more than just a chance encounter.
It’s viewed as divine intervention.
This group, linked to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) and encouraged by the outspoken Idaho pastor Doug Wilson, has gained traction in recent years by resonating with conservative evangelicals who prefer a more aggressive and openly right-wing stance. Hegseth’s congregation, Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship near Nashville, Tennessee, is a part of this growing trend within the CREC.
The rise of this CREC group has earned it recognition as a vital player in the broader religious right movement known as Christian nationalism, despite being slower to gain traction within Trump’s inner circle compared to other factions. Hegseth’s close ties to the president-elect are now altering this dynamic.
The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for a statement.
However, for Wilson-led Reformed evangelicals, Hegseth’s potential appointment signifies a milestone in their long-standing desire to shape a government where traditional Christian men assume leadership in the military and other key-public sectors. At the very least, Hegseth’s nomination has motivated these Reformed evangelicals to stand firm in their beliefs and continue their pursuits.
“They certainly wouldn’t object to having greater influence and a representative who aligns with their ideology in such a prominent role,” stated Matthew Taylor, an expert on religious extremism at the Institute for Islamic-Christian-Jewish Studies, a nonprofit based in Baltimore. “It both propels their agenda and provides them with a foothold within Trump’s broader political landscape.”
Taylor, who authored the 2024 book “The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy,” noted that a different group of charismatic Christian nationalists has been more prominently featured in Trump’s advisory team during his first term and was vocal during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. These charismatic Christian nationalists often use language focused on prophecy and demonic forces, calling for God’s immediate intervention in society.
In comparison, the hardline Reformed evangelicals appeal to reason and offer their views with a sense of scholarly authority, even when those beliefs are often challenged or criticized as being outside the mainstream. Wilson has gained a reputation as a provocateur, known for contesting traditional views on issues like slavery and women’s suffrage, which he argues undermine male-dominated family structures, which he vigorously defends.
Julie Ingersoll, a religious studies professor at the University of North Florida, pointed out that these Reformed evangelicals differ from charismatic groups in their perspective on change, expecting it to take shape over a longer duration.
Despite their differences, “they unite under the concept of militancy,” Taylor explained. “They believe that the church should be militant in the world, tasked with reforming and in many ways conquering society.”
This militant outlook among hardline Reformed evangelicals significantly intersects with a hypermasculine ideology. They generally hold negative views towards women serving in combat, leading to friction between Hegseth and several influential senators whose approval is vital for his confirmation. Recently, Hegseth has moderated his stance on women in combat while still countering a sexual assault allegation that he claims was consensual.
Throughout this nomination and its accompanying debates, Brooks Potteiger, the founding pastor of Pilgrim Hill, along with pastoral intern Joshua Haymes, have been among Hegseth’s staunchest advocates.
“Replacing those lacking virtue with God-fearing Christian men,” Haymes remarked in a November 13 post about Hegseth’s nomination. “Trump’s administration will include (at least some) devout Christians who will advise him and hold political power.”
A Divine Army Expands Its Ranks
Hegseth’s link to Wilson’s movement highlights the evolution of its institutions and the new chances for wielding influence.
Wilson, who leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, initially focused less on political influence and more on building four key structures: New Saint Andrews College, the Association of Classical Christian Schools, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, and Canon Press, a publishing division that now offers various digital content, according to Molly Worthen, a religious historian from the University of North Carolina.
“When I first met him, he was coming off a phase where he felt disillusioned with party politics,” Worthen elaborated in an interview. The author of the 2013 book “Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism” covered Wilson’s rise in prominence in outlets such as The New York Times and Christianity Today during the late 2000s.
Since that time, Wilson’s approach has shifted, and he has increasingly associated with influential Republican figures. Earlier this year, he appeared on Tucker Carlson’s program and took part in discussions at the National Conservatism Conference held in Washington, D.C.
“Given the platform he currently possesses, it would be unwise not to take advantage of it,” said Worthen. “He has a cultural moment that enables him to advocate fiercely against existing institutions and political practices.”
Hegseth’s engagement with this Reformed evangelical community stems not from a personal connection with Wilson, but rather from the recent growth of CREC congregations. Although Wilson does not know Hegseth personally, he referred to the nomination as “a wonderful choice,” stating in a November 25 blog post that “He champions classical Christian education, opposes women in combat roles, and, to top it all off, he is a member of one of our CREC churches.”
Hegseth’s church, Pilgrim Hill, is one of 50 congregations added to the denomination between 2020 and 2024, marking a 41% increase in U.S. congregations, bringing the total to 120, based on a review of the CREC’s church directory.
This increase has been attributed by leaders within the denomination in a September 2023 report to the discontent among conservatives with mainstream evangelical circles, stemming from COVID-19, and CREC pastors like Wilson resisting public health measures. Potteiger, who established Pilgrim Hill in 2021, stated during a February 10 podcast that an additional factor was the response to the Black Lives Matter protests, which he claimed evangelical leaders had overly accommodated, labeling it “a massive satanic tactic to taint the gospel.”
In response to a request for a comment through his blog, Wilson did not specifically address Hegseth’s nomination but acknowledged the recent growth of the CREC and its affiliated organizations.
“We may be a small denomination, but our steadfast stance during COVID has brought considerable attention to us,” Wilson noted in a January 3 email. “When coupled with our strong connections to the revitalized classical Christian education movement, we are witnessing today.”
Potteiger has not commented on this. In a podcast from February 10, he expressed admiration for the CREC for being “not only defensive, but actively offensive.” He stated, “We don’t aim to give up any ground; instead, we strive to take the high ground in the cultural battle.”
A sword-wielding state for a God-fearing man
After establishing Pilgrim Hill, Potteiger transitioned from being just a follower of Wilson’s teachings to a passionate advocate for the principles of Christian patriarchy.
A key idea that Potteiger and Haymes often discuss on their podcast is “sphere sovereignty,” which outlines the structure of Christian paternal authority in society. According to this model, Christian men govern three equally significant spheres—the government, the church, and the family—to ensure order and discipline through various means. Haymes mentioned in a podcast episode on February 24 featuring Hegseth that “the state’s tool given by God is the sword, its role is to administer justice, shielding the righteous from the wicked.”
Hegseth’s potential leadership in the nation’s top enforcement agency is viewed as a hopeful sign for believers like Haymes, even though this vision of sphere sovereignty has not yet been fully realized. In a November 27 social media post about Hegseth, Haymes remarked, “God is elevating Christian men into leadership roles across our country.”
However, Ingersoll, the author of the 2015 book “Building God’s Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction,” asserts that divine intervention isn’t behind Hegseth’s nomination among the Reformed community.
“They are always anticipating movements into power by individuals who share their worldview,” Ingersoll noted. “This isn’t a coincidence; it’s part of a larger strategy.”
This strategy is exemplified in Hegseth’s path, which began through his exposure to Wilson’s ideas and the institutions linked to the Association of Classical Christian Schools. Hegseth was so impressed by the Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy, a Nashville-based school in this network co-founded by Wilson, that he and his family moved from New Jersey to Tennessee to enroll his children there, according to a December 2023 article in Nashville Christian Family magazine. Hegseth subsequently deepened his appreciation for the specific Reformed ethical views promoted by the CREC and the Association of Classical Christian Schools.
“My past four to five years have been a complete awakening,” Hegseth shared in a February podcast conversation with Haymes. “Embracing the truth that God’s law brings freedom has driven my desire to understand that law and Him in greater depth.”
Through his connections at the school, Hegseth found Pilgrim Hill and has since undergone a formal process to become a full member, which Potteiger acknowledged on social media, celebrating Hegseth’s nomination. The constitution of Pilgrim Hill, modeled after other CREC churches, mandates that new members explicitly agree to certain beliefs and oaths, with elders evaluating the candidate’s adherence to doctrine.
“The CREC structure inherently promotes this level of conformity,” Ingersoll pointed out.
Hegseth’s commitment to this rigid Reformed evangelicalism is embraced by its supporters, reflecting that their views are prominently represented in the upper echelons of American power. This is viewed as a significant step towards achieving their vision of a Christian state.
“They perceive that establishing God’s kingdom is a long-term endeavor but also recognize that pivotal moments occur throughout history,” Ingersoll stated. “And they anticipate victory.”
