Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commenced the Pentagon’s workday on Wednesday with an event that might be unprecedented in that building’s history: a Christian prayer and worship session held in the Pentagon’s auditorium, inviting participation from all personnel. This gathering, titled the “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service,” was conducted by Pastor Brooks Potteiger from Hegseth’s home church, Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship in Ridgetop, Tennessee. The service spanned 30 minutes and saw attendees filling the space to its limit. For those who couldn’t be present, the session was aired on the Pentagon’s internal cable channel. Hegseth announced his intention to establish this as a monthly tradition.
Hegseth gave the opening remarks.
Then he gave the opening prayer, which the New York Times printed in full so its readers could experience the horror of it all.
“King Jesus, we come humbly before you, seeking your face, seeking your grace, in humble obedience to your law and to your word,” Mr. Hegseth prayed after requesting attendees to bow their heads. “We come as sinners saved only by that grace, seeking your providence in our lives and in our nation. Lord God, we ask for the wisdom to see what is right and in each and every day, in each and every circumstance, the courage to do what is right in obedience to your will. It is in the name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, that we pray. And all God’s people say amen.”
The story notes, “The assembled worshipers, including at least one general, repeated ‘Amen.'”
Responding to a New York Times article, Hegseth emphasized the connection between religion and America. He asserted that religion is equally intertwined with the American military. From George Washington praying in the snow at Valley Forge to George Patton’s notable public prayer for favorable weather and his directive to the Third Army to “Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle…Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace,” religious faith has been a constant presence throughout American military history.
It’s called: “In God We Trust.”
Since our founding, America’s leaders — and warriors — have sought God’s providence and protection. We seek to glorify Him as we serve our country.
At the Pentagon, we will humbly continue this sacred tradition — each and every month. pic.twitter.com/i5ZVxl4fqg
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 21, 2025
He added:
When the @nytimes is forced to print an entire prayer… pic.twitter.com/KsNMk8LCxa
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 21, 2025
Naturally, panties were tightly wadded in some corners over the open acknowledgement of the Almighty and begging his blessing in the affairs of government. Enter the “Freedom From Religion Foundation.”
FFRF’s letter to Hegseth outlines major constitutional concerns, citing Supreme Court precedent that bars government-sponsored prayer and protects the right of all citizens — including military personnel — to be free from government coercion to participate in religion.
“By holding an official Christian prayer meeting, the department ‘sends a message to nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community,’” writes FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line. “In a tightly knit and hierarchical institution like the military, such exclusion can have serious effects on morale, cohesion and trust.”
Their complaint is nuts. No one is forced to attend and there was no roll call to establish who was present. It is hard to see how a worship service disadvantages anyone, especially when one considers the mandatory DEI struggle sessions required under the previous regime. But it did open two lines of attack.
First, will Reformed Christianity be the only voice heard in these monthly events?
It is not clear whether any of those services that Wilson referred to were advertised via email, broadcast internally, or hosted by the top Pentagon official.
Wilson also stopped short of saying that those forthcoming services would feature other religions, and she noted that any participating civilian clergy are responsible for their own travel expenses.
The second attack point is that Pastor Potteiger adheres to so-called Christian Nationalism. I’ve never been able to figure out what is so horrible about Christianity serving as the cultural model for America because I tend toward the precepts of Altar-Throne-Solidarity-Subsidiarity-Occidentalism myself. But Potteiger’s social views have attached to Hegseth and will be a point of contention.
Mr. Potteiger’s church, the Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship in Goodlettsville, Tenn., is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches — the governing documents of which that church leadership roles are reserved for men, that homosexuality is “unbiblical” and that women should not participate in combat. Mr. Hegseth said in a podcast appearance before his nomination to lead the Pentagon that women have no place in military combat units, but appeared to soften that stance during his confirmation hearing in January.
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