The Christ Church Movement in Moscow, Idaho: Ideology, Influence, and Impact
A Glimpse Into One Possible Future
In the small college town of Moscow, Idaho (population 26,300), a religious movement has quietly been building influence for decades. Christ Church, led by Pastor Douglas Wilson, represents a unique case study in how a theologically conservative Christian community has strategically worked to reshape a community according to its religious vision. Over the years, what began as a single congregation has evolved into a multifaceted network of churches, schools, businesses, and media outlets with national aspirations that uses predictive algorithms to inform family planning in order to assure they will eventually grow into the majority.
Founding and Leadership
Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho was founded in the early 1990s and is led by Douglas Wilson, a controversial figure in evangelical Christian circles. Wilson, born in 1953, is a conservative Reformed evangelical theologian who has authored numerous books on theology, classical education, and cultural commentary. He did not attend seminary and lacks formal theological training. Instead, he developed his perspective through self-study and the influence of his father, Jim Wilson, who moved to the Moscow area in 1971 to start a Christian bookstore after retiring from the Navy.
Douglas Wilson is known for his provocative style and willingness to engage in public debate. He famously debated atheist Christopher Hitchens on whether Christianity is good for the world, which was later turned into a documentary called "Collision." Wilson's leadership extends beyond Christ Church to include the founding of schools, a publishing house, and a denomination called the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC).
Theological and Ideological Framework
The theological framework that guides Christ Church combines several distinct elements:
Reformed Calvinism: At its core, Christ Church adheres to Reformed theology, emphasizing God's sovereignty, predestination, and covenant theology.
Postmillennialism: Wilson promotes postmillennial eschatology (the study of the end times), which teaches that Christ will return after a period in which Christianity comes to dominate the world, not before it. This view motivates believers to take political action to create a Christian society rather than awaiting imminent divine intervention.
Christian Nationalism: Wilson openly advocates for Christian nationalism, believing that America should be explicitly governed according to Christian principles. According to reports, Wilson envisions an ideal America in which non-Christians would not be able to hold public office
Dominion Theology/Christian Reconstructionism: Though Wilson does not fully embrace all aspects of Christian Reconstructionism as developed by R.J. Rushdoony, his theological approach shares many similarities with this movement, which seeks to implement biblical law in modern society.
Federal Vision: Wilson has been associated with the controversial Federal Vision theology, which emphasizes covenant community and has been criticized by some Reformed denominations for allegedly blurring the lines between justification by faith alone and the role of works.
Patriarchal Gender Roles: Wilson teaches strict gender roles, with men as leaders in family and church, and women in supportive, submissive positions. In his 1999 book "Fidelity," Wilson wrote that in sexual relations, "a man penetrates, conquers, colonizes, plants. A woman receives, surrenders, accepts."
Strategic Approach to Moscow, Idaho
The selection of Moscow, Idaho as the center for Christ Church's activities was not accidental but strategic. Several factors influenced this choice:
Size and Strategic Importance: Wilson's father had a vision for taking over towns in the name of Christianity, and Doug Wilson followed this approach by seeking "a place that's small enough to be winnable but large enough to matter.” With approximately 25,000 residents and the University of Idaho, Moscow fits this profile.
Educational Opportunity: The presence of the University of Idaho provides both a challenge (secular influence) and opportunity (educated population and infrastructure) for Wilson's movement.
Affordable Real Estate: When Wilson arrived, Moscow offered relatively inexpensive real estate, facilitating the acquisition of properties for church expansion.
Long-term Perspective: Wilson has consistently emphasized patience in achieving his goals. He reportedly told a journalist that it might take "500 years" before his vision of a Christian republic could be fully realized, indicating a multi-generational approach.
The stated mission of Christ Church has been unambiguous: "Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town... through genuine cultural engagement that provides Christian leadership in the arts, in business, in education, in politics, and in literature.” This mission aligns with Wilson's father's 1964 book "Principles of War: A Handbook on Strategic Evangelism," which applied military concepts to spreading Christianity.
Growth Strategies and Expansion
Christ Church has employed several key strategies to expand its influence:
1. Educational Institutions
Education forms the cornerstone of Christ Church's growth strategy:
Logos School: Founded in 1981, this K-12 classical Christian school established Wilson's educational model.
New Saint Andrews College: Founded in 1994, this private liberal arts college in downtown Moscow teaches Wilson's brand of Christianity. The church's session of elders serves as the spiritual authority for the college.
Greyfriars Hall: This three-year ministerial training program prepares pastors in Wilson's theological framework. Graduates have started similar churches around the country.
Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS): Wilson runs an education empire that includes approximately 500 classical Christian schools nationally. The ACCS has become incredibly influential, with Wilson describing these schools as "a munitions factory" where "students are munitions, and he can change culture through students"
2. Real Estate Acquisition
The church and its members have strategically acquired property throughout Moscow:
Christ Church has taken a novel approach to increasing their influence in Moscow by buying up large swaths of the town, focusing on downtown properties.
Church members have purchased buildings and businesses, sometimes declining to renew leases for existing businesses, contributing to the church's expanding footprint.
These acquisitions have caused concern among local residents who worry about the economic influence this gives to church members.
3. Business Development
Economic influence has been another pillar of Christ Church's strategy:
Church members own numerous businesses in Moscow, including coffee shops, restaurants, and retail establishments.
The church maintains connections to businesses through formal and informal networks, creating an economic ecosystem.
This business presence provides employment opportunities for church members and financial resources for church initiatives.
4. Media and Publishing
Christ Church has invested heavily in spreading its message:
Canon Press: Originally founded as a ministry of Christ Church, this publishing house produces Wilson's books and other materials aligned with the church's theology.
Blog and Mablog: Wilson's prolific blog reaches a wide audience beyond Moscow.
Digital Media: The church and its affiliates maintain an active presence online through websites, podcasts, and video content.
5. Demographic Growth through Family and Relocation
Unlike some religious movements that focus primarily on converting existing residents, Christ Church has grown substantially through:
Large Families: Christ Church promotes large families and traditional gender roles, with couples often having multiple children. While not explicitly aligned with the "Quiverfull" movement, one church member described as "a dutiful, homeschooling mother" was told by her husband that "No wife of mine is going to work,” reflecting the patriarchal values promoted by Wilson.
Geographic Relocation: The church has attracted like-minded conservative Christians from around the country who relocate to Moscow specifically to join the community. This has been especially notable during political and cultural tensions in recent years, with Wilson noting that his congregation doubled over four years, estimating that "80 percent of the reason people come here" was the "fomented discontent" around issues like pandemic restrictions.
Church Planting: Christ Church has established additional congregations, including Trinity Reformed Church, extending its reach in the area.
Social and Political Positions
Christ Church has gained notoriety for several controversial social and political positions:
Gender and Family Views
The church promotes strictly traditional gender roles:
Women are expected to be primarily homemakers and to submit to male authority in marriage.
Church counseling has reinforced these expectations, with one woman being suspended "from the Table of the Lord" until she confessed and repented after "leaving it up to her husband to clean and prep food, putting her kids in daycare, and 'ignoring the God given roles,' including submission.”
Homeschooling is strongly encouraged for church families.
COVID-19 Response
Christ Church gained national attention for its resistance to pandemic restrictions:
The church "drew attention for its vocal opposition, and active resistance to federal and local restrictions meant to halt the spread of COVID-19."
Wilson encouraged followers to "resist openly" against restrictions, which he characterized as "enslavement."
Church members organized mask protests, resulting in some arrests.
Wilson reportedly defended the use of fake vaccine cards in a blog post.
3. Racial Views and Slavery Controversy
One of the most controversial aspects of Wilson's ministry involves his views on race and slavery:
In 1996, Wilson co-authored "Southern Slavery As It Was" with Steve Wilkins, which portrayed slavery in the American South in a positive light, describing it as "a relationship based upon mutual affection and confidence."
Wilson has been associated with neo-Confederate ideas, though he prefers the term "paleo-Confederate."
He has been criticized by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which connected his views to neo-Confederate and Christian Reconstruction movements.
Wilson has repeatedly denied racist leanings, claiming to seek restoration of a prior era rather than white supremacy.
4. Political Engagement
While advocating for Christian influence in politics, Christ Church has had limited direct political success:
Queen's University Belfast professor Crawford Gribben notes that Christ Church has made "very little impact on local politics" and that Moscow is not yet a Christian town.
Church members have run for local offices but generally have not won elections in liberal-leaning Moscow.
The church's influence appears stronger at the national level through its educational and denominational networks than in local Moscow politics.
Connections to Texas and Beyond
While Christ Church is centered in Moscow, Idaho, its influence extends far beyond:
National Denominational Network: The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), founded by Wilson, has member churches across the United States and internationally.
Educational Network: Wilson runs "an education empire that includes 500 classical Christian schools nationally" through the Association of Classical Christian Schools.
Southern Connections: Wilson's association with neo-Confederate ideas and co-authorship with Louisiana pastor Steve Wilkins demonstrates connections to Southern conservative Christianity.
National Conservative Christian Movement: Christ Church and Wilson are part of the broader Christian nationalist movement gaining prominence in conservative states across America, including Texas, where the Church is reported to have significant ties.
Local Response and Resistance
Moscow residents have responded to Christ Church's growth in various ways:
Community Concern: Nearly 200 Moscow residents gathered in December 2024 to discuss what they saw as the growing influence of Christian nationalism represented by Christ Church.
Economic Resistance: Many residents avoid supporting businesses with ties to the church, with some seeking out establishments displaying "welcoming and affirming" decals from PFLAG.
Public Forums: In April 2024, Wilson and other church leaders participated in a public forum at the University of Idaho, where more than 100 people attended, including both church members and critics.
Municipal Actions: The City Council has taken some actions to limit the church's influence, such as restricting college expansions in downtown, which affected New Saint Andrews College.
Persistent Liberalism: Despite decades of Christ Church's presence, Moscow remains predominantly liberal politically, demonstrating the limits of the church's influence.
Current Status and Future Outlook
As of 2025, Christ Church's status in Moscow can be summarized as follows:
Size and Growth: The church has grown to approximately 1,300 members between Christ Church (900) and Trinity Reformed Church (400), representing about 5% of Moscow's population.
Continuing Strategy: The church continues its multi-faceted approach of targeting educational institutions, business development, and cultural engagement.
National Influence: While local political success has been limited, Wilson's influence nationally through his educational network, publishing, and media presence has expanded significantly.
Community Tensions: Relations between the church and many Moscow residents remain strained, with ongoing concerns about the church's objectives and influence.
Long-term Vision: Church leaders maintain their long-term vision for transforming Moscow and, by extension, American society, though they emphasize this will occur through persuasion and cultural engagement rather than coercion.
Conclusion: A Case Study in Religious Community Building
Christ Church in Moscow represents a fascinating case study in how a religious movement can strategically work to reshape a community according to its theological vision. Through a comprehensive approach that spans education, economics, publishing, and community building, Wilson has created a distinct religious ecosystem within a largely liberal college town.
The church's success in establishing institutions while facing significant local resistance highlights both the potential and limitations of such movements. While Christ Church has not achieved its stated goal of making Moscow a "Christian town" after decades of effort, it has established a durable presence and extended its influence nationally through educational networks.
As such, Christ Church offers important insights into contemporary Christian nationalism, showing how theological beliefs can translate into concrete strategies for community influence. Whether one views these efforts as commendable religious expression or concerning theocratic aspirations will largely depend on one's own theological and political perspectives. What remains clear is that this small church in Idaho has created an impact disproportionate to its size, offering lessons for both religious movements and those concerned about their influence in American society.