MOSCOW, Idaho — Christ Church Pastor Doug Wilson told an audience of approximately 70 people Thursday evening that Moscow is becoming a “working prototype” of what a Christian nationalist society could look like, laying out a vision for reshaping American civic life through evangelism, church planting, and faith-based education.
The town hall, held at the University of Idaho Administration Auditorium and organized by the UI student group Collegiate Reformed Fellowship, featured Wilson alongside King’s Cross Pastor Toby Sumpter and New Saint Andrews College Pastor Jared Longshore. The three pastors fielded questions from the audience about Christ Church’s stated goal of helping build a Christian nationalist society in America.
Pastors Describe a Society Rooted in America’s Founding Faith
The speakers frequently referenced America’s founding era as a model for the society they hope to see restored. Sumpter noted that the founders were largely Protestant and that states that signed the Constitution were “overwhelmingly Christian.” Longshore described Christian nationalism as placing God above the state — a principle he argued was foundational to the country’s original design.
Wilson was careful to distinguish his vision from a formal state religion, saying he does not favor an official government church. However, he said he wants governing authority to recognize what he called the “true God.” He added that under a Christian nationalist society, members of minority religions would have “more liberty than they do” now — though he also said a person could not obtain a permit to build a Hindu statue, and that public spaces belong, in his view, to Christ and church bells rather than to Muslim prayer calls.
Wilson also stated that while people would not be persecuted for differences of opinion, someone “blaspheming” in public — particularly in a violent manner — should be detained.
The pastors said they intend to pursue these goals not through political force but through persuasion — specifically by evangelizing and planting churches and schools, a strategy already underway in Moscow, where multiple institutions affiliated with Christ Church have taken root over the years.
Questions on Marriage, Voting, and the Nuclear Family
The three pastors also addressed a range of social questions from the audience. All three stated opposition to same-sex marriage. Wilson said governments should not support LGBTQ pride parades or events. Sumpter argued that the erosion of the traditional nuclear family carries consequences similar to nuclear fallout, citing scripture in his argument that homosexuality weakens societies. He connected what he described as the “destruction” of the American nuclear family to rising abortion rates, crime, and suicide.
Wilson addressed previous reports suggesting Christ Church members support repealing the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. He said he is not seeking to reverse the amendment “right this minute” but wants American elections to function similarly to Christ Church’s own internal elections, in which votes are counted by household rather than by individual. He added that women may represent their household if they are widowed, divorced, or single.
The event drew not only supporters but also critics. Moscow resident Amy Mazur, who has lived in the city for 15 years, told reporters before the town hall that Christ Church is not focused on bettering the broader Moscow community, but rather seeks to transform it into a Christian town. She criticized the church’s practice of purchasing properties in Moscow and expressed concern over what she described as a lack of participation in interfaith community building with other local congregations.
Mazur also raised concerns about Wilson’s association with members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is a member of Wilson’s national Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches.
The town hall took place as communities across the region prepare for spring events. Nez Perce County residents looking for local family and community engagement can find upcoming activities including Easter 2026 celebrations and egg hunts across Nez Perce County and the Twin County United Way Day of Caring on May 1 as part of the Idaho Gives season.
What Comes Next
Christ Church’s influence in Moscow and the broader Palouse region is expected to remain a topic of public discussion as the congregation continues its stated strategy of church planting, school expansion, and community engagement. No follow-up town hall events have been publicly announced. The University of Idaho has not issued any formal response regarding the use of its facilities for the event. Community members on both sides of the debate are expected to continue engaging the questions raised Thursday night through local forums, faith communities, and civic organizations across the Lewis-Clark Valley region.