If the CREC has its way, we should begin saying our farewells to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, and every other “ism” you can think of. Because the members of the CREC (Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches) are determined that this will be a Christian world, opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view other than their own. [Samuel Perry, Baylor University, The Conversation, June 20, 2025.]

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And Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is an active member of one of the CREC’s churches. Even before his confirmation hearings in January of this year, his membership became an issue because of prominent members of the CREC churches who identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues such as gender, sexuality, and the separation of church and state.

More recently, there was substantial media coverage of Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, leading a Pentagon prayer service in which they praised Donald Trump as having been divinely appointed. [Id.]

The CREC’s co-founder, Doug Wilson, began building his network of churches, schools, and media outlets in his home town of Moscow, Idaho; his stated desire was to”to make Moscow a Christian town.” The CREC now claims to have more than 130 member churches throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. On its website, the CREC says it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.” [Id.]

CREC churches also adhere to a strictly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said, for example, that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.” [Id.]

Why am I hearing echoes of the Sabine Women?

While obviously finding that personally disgusting, I am even more concerned with their contention that the government, and everyone serving in it, should be Christian . . . as they define it. Researcher Matthew Taylor stated in an interview with 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.” [Id.]

The CREC’s Logos Schools, through its own Logos Press, has created — both for their own use and for sale to private schools and home-school families — a curriculum designed to develop their “biblical worldview,” and to help parents “raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.” [Id.]

Logos press asserts that “education is warfare.” [Id.]

Wilson has also founded Canon Press, which produces books, podcasts, and a YouTube channel, as well as assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. Their YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers. Their published books include children’s picture books, books on warfare, and manuals on masculinity, in addition to a number of books on Christian nationalism.

In 1996, Wilson published a book that offered a positive depiction of slavery, and claimed that slavery cultivated “affection among the races.” [Id.]

Yeah, right . . . like the affection those six million Jews felt for the Nazi regime as they were marched to the crematoria.

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There’s more information available on the CREC website, but I find I haven’t the stomach to delve deeper into it at this moment. From what I have read, though, this much is obvious:

Like any extremist group — left or right, religion-based or otherwise — they are dangerous. This particular organization has all the earmarks of a latent 21st century religious-political Crusade. They fancy themselves to be warriors. And the U.S. Secretary of Defense — by his actions with regard to gender identity, banning trans people from military service, and holding group prayer sessions in the Pentagon and the White House — obviously adheres to at least some of their beliefs.

I think I’ve said enough.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/25/25