Moscow Residents Pack Meeting to Combat Christ Church’s Growing Influence

Moscow Residents Pack Meeting to Combat Christ Church’s Growing Influence

By Tracy Simmons | FāVS News

Moscow, IDAHO —Nearly 200 Moscow residents gathered Tuesday night to discuss combating Christian nationalism, spurred by “Extremely American” podcast host Heath Druzin’s investigation into Christ Church and its leader Doug Wilson’s growing influence in the community.

The podcast’s second season, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” has topped 1 million downloads and details Christ Church’s role in the extremist movement.

“The intent of tonight’s presentation is to help educate our community about forms of extremism, its ramifications and the consequences in our community and our roles in dealing with it,” said Dale Gentry, retired dean of the College of Education at the University of Idaho. “One of the goals is to bring people together, and to help perpetuate the welcoming environment that is present in this Moscow community.”

Church Control Downtown

Christ Church’s relationship with Moscow dates back to the 70s and has been growing slowly over the decades. Today the church has between 800-900 members in the 25,000 people town, and those members own about 20% of the city’s downtown buildings, according to the podcast.

Many residents boycott those Christ Church owned businesses.

The church’s growth has caused a divide in the community, especially as Wilson continues to gain national attention, particularly in Christian nationalist circles. Druzin spoke to the concerned citizens on Tuesday, an event hosted by the United Church of Moscow, the Latah County Human Rights Task Force and the Community Congregational United Church of Christ of Pullman (located across the border in Washington).

Wilson’s Educational Empire

Druzin explained that Wilson, 71, is more influential nationally than locally. Wilson runs the Community of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a Calvinist church group that has a presence coast-to-coast, and an education empire that includes 500 classical Christian schools nationally.

Druzin said the education arm is perhaps the most powerful.

“He sees them as a munitions factory,” Druzin explained. “Students are munitions, and he can change culture through students. It’s effective … and this extends to homeschool materials.”

Moscow is home to New Saint Andrews College, a private classical Christian school founded in 1994 by the church. Druzin said Wilson hopes it’s where students from his network of secondary schools end up.

Wilson also a grip on media through Canon Press, which not only publishes books, but also produces podcasts and streaming shows.

Druzin said a “kirker” as Christ Church members are called, can easily have their educational, spiritual and entertainment needs met through Wilson’s empire.

Liberal Town Thwarts Wilson’s Political Aims

“What Doug Wilson wants to do, according to Doug Wilson, is change society; create an American theocracy,” Druzin said.

And although that’s caused tension in Moscow, Druzin said Moscow hasn’t let Wilson take over its small town.

“That’s partly because Moscow is not a very conservative place and you’ve been outspoken on that,” he told the audience, noting that Christ Church members have not found success in running for political offices locally.

The city has consistently leaned liberal, particularly when compared to neighboring Eastern Washington and rural Idaho. 

Residents Urged to Stay Vigilant

The fact that nearly 200 people showed up to an at-capacity event, in the rain, was a hopeful sign, Druzin said, but he added that concerned citizens needed to stay vigilant and remain civically engaged.

“Inevitability happens when people get complacent,” he said. “Extremism is not broadly popular, but they tend to outwork their opposition. They’re more dogged about it, more patient. There’s a motivation gap.”

Joann Muneta, of the  Latah County Human Rights Task Force, said it might be time for citizens to take a stronger stand if they want continue fighting against Christ Church.

“Moscow wants to solve this problem without friction. We believe in pluralism, and we believe in love and we want to stick to that, but …  maybe we have to be activists,” she said. 

She added that she was surprised to learn people refer to Moscow as “Doug Wilson’s empire.”

“They’re looking to see how successful he’ll be in his takeover and his experiment here,” she said.

Druzin said there’s no denying Wilson is trying to make his Moscow footprint bigger, but reminded locals that he hasn’t found success.

“He’s been working to make this a Christian town for 40 years and it hasn’t happened yet. I think that’s an important fact.”