Pentagon Welcomes Pastor Who Has Criticized Women’s Suffrage and Advocated Christian Nation to Monthly Worship Service

By Michael Katz
Thursday, February 19, 2026

The Pentagon defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s invitation of Doug Wilson, a controversial Christian pastor who has criticized the 19th Amendment and advocated for a Christian civil order, after the minister delivered a sermon Tuesday during a worship service at the War Department.

Doug Wilson, 72, founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, in the 1970s and later helped establish the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a denomination now comprising more than 150 churches worldwide. Hegseth is the pastor’s most prominent supporter within the Trump administration.

During a service broadcast on the War Department’s internal television network, Wilson spoke for approximately 15 minutes. In his sermon, he referenced praying for “a black swan revival.”

“God can do what he likes,” Wilson stated in remarks obtained by a source. “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.”

An attendee described Wilson’s message as “pretty vanilla” and noted that it avoided political rhetoric, including discussions about women serving in military leadership roles.

Defense officials confirmed the service was part of a voluntary monthly Christian worship series initiated by Hegseth last year.

Wilson has drawn criticism for past statements labeling the 19th Amendment—a pivotal civil rights achievement granting women voting rights—as a mistake and advocating for a Christian nation guided by biblical principles. Within his church, women do not hold leadership positions.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated on Wednesday that Secretary Hegseth, alongside millions of Americans, is “a proud Christian” who welcomed Wilson to the Pentagon. The spokesperson added that despite efforts by some groups to remove Christian heritage from the nation, Hegseth embraces it.

The service was accompanied by a photo of Hegseth with Wilson’s shoulder, posted on the War Department’s official social media platform with the caption: “We are One Nation Under God.”

Military reports indicate this month’s service sparked complaints from active-duty personnel, veterans, and defense contractors. A contractor described the invitation as “stark, depressing, almost threatening.”