Christ Church has been in Moscow for nearly 50 years. During those 50 years Doug Wilson, leader of Christ Church, has grown his empire significantly and dangerously.
Christ Church has a huge effect on Moscow and surrounding towns but recently has come into the national spotlight for an event that happened in Sep. 2020
On Sep. 23, 2020, members of Christ Church held what is called a “Psalm Sing” event in which they gathered in front of Moscow City Hall.
During that event, multiple people were arrested due to non-compliance with law enforcement. Three of the members who were arrested went on to file a civil lawsuit for wrongful arrest against the city of Moscow.
Instead of dealing with the lawsuit and following a procedure to prove that it wasn’t a wrongful arrest, the city decided to settle outside of court and pay $300,000 to dismiss all claims.
This is only one aspect of how Christ Church is seemingly untouchable in Moscow.
Christ Church also has a huge number of businesses in Moscow that are owned by members of the church, or Doug Wilson himself.
Christ Church has been slowly buying up businesses in downtown to connect to their greater web of businesses. There is now an online movement to share businesses that are connected to Christ Church to avoid them as best people can.
Christ Church has these businesses in multiple different branches ranging from construction to restaurants. Many of these businesses may not have an official connection to Christ Church, but some do.
With the combination of settlements and sheer number of businesses in Moscow, it seems as though Christ Church is starting to take over.
However, there is a major pushback coming from students, residents and other churches in Moscow causing Christ Church to be struggling at turning Moscow into their “Christian town” as they say in their mission statement.
It’s not just Moscow however, a neighboring city, Troy, has started to feel the impact of Christ Church and started to push back as well.
In late June of this year, residents of Troy voiced their opinions in an article with Yahoo News. Residents talked about how they were worried of Christ Church coming to Troy because they were looking to “…take over the whole town…”
Christ Church is a plague on not just Moscow but also all surrounding areas as they look to expand and bring more residents under their umbrella. There have even been some instances of Christ Church members in Pullman, a neighboring college town in Washington, attempting to gain supporters.
It’s not just regional organizations that are writing about Christ Church. They have reached national levels with pieces done by Meet The Press in Sep. 2022.
Christ Church is a hidden monster that has made its way into Moscow. They are attempting to make their own Christian town separate from other cities, and above the laws of the U.S. as Doug Wilson says in that interview with Meet the Press.
Businesses owned by members of Christ Church may be hard to distinguish, but if people can pick them out and want to send Christ Church a message, they should spread the word and stop supporting those businesses.
Connor Anderson can be reached at [email protected]
David Schultz
I have never attended Christ Church first of all, but there is not one single fact in this "opinion" piece that is intended to slander a local church. As an outsider, here's my personal observations. Moscow has a small but vocal p population of people who are terrified of Jesus and embrace idiotic lies of radical groups like BLM and Antifa. They ignorantly fly flags supporting pedophilia thinking it's a LGBT support flag. They don't really do any research into what they support as long as they are conforming to the popular trends of social media. There are plenty who still wear masks driving in cars alone. They seem jealous of the happiness of the majority of Christians in the town and their success and can only enjoy their life if they are trashing Christians. They are the ones who have no tolerance to anyone who has a different opinion.
Jc
13% of this country identifies as Christian. And the MAJORITY don't want someone else's ideology shoved down their throat in a FREE country. And it is pretty remarkable that you attack the lgbtqia+ flags with pedophilia slander. When the entire country knows a very large majority of pedophilia and child abuse happen under the guise of the church. So if FREE American citizens decide against religious intolerance (which is anti christian) and chooses to pursue whatever endeavors or support whoever they want. It is because america is FREE from or for religion. And evidently the FREE people in Moscow and Troy don't want the faux christian ideals taking over in their town. Just remember, there are more of us than you and we will not stand idly by while a religious cult injects its ideas of morality, and ethics onto FREE people while having none!
Renee Leisinger
Great article! Thank you.
Dave
If only lots of businesses in Moscow were owned by Antifa, it would be a total utopia, nirvana, almost a perfect place. Super "inclusive", open-minded, and not at all hateful or violent. It has done wonders for Portland Oregon. Derp.
Rebecca Garcia
https://thewartburgwatch.com/2016/02/12/what-is-the-problem-with-doug-wilson/
Daria
Let’s not forget about the many proven pedophiles that exist within this cult
DeAnn Isenberg
Interesting article. You have no concept of people of faith living their lives! Just because a business person is a member of a certain church does not mean the church controls the business. But clients of that business can hold the owner to a higher standard because he/she purports to serve God and live by Biblical truths. I do not attend Christ Church. I am saddened by the hatred shown in Moscow to Christian principled businesses.
jason
you fools, there is nothing christian principled about taking over towns and alienating and oppressing, ostracizing and persecution of the ways of the people that have been living here. They are forcefully taking control of our town using the power of MONEY and peoples good faith in Christianity. We dont have high paying jobs here, the locals cant afford to "buy our town" and before long anyone that isnt part of the church will not be able to find work at all, because all businesses will be owned by them, and they will only hire church affiliate members, forcing people to leave their community. Christ Church is enriching its cult leaders, by using some good teachings from the bible to legitimatize the awful reality of their actions. you know how many christian churches we have here? several. Not a single one of them is causing problems besides christ church. They are night and day. you dont see us complaining about the other christians. the other christian churches cant stand these people either. stop defending them, you are ignorant and this is not your place.
Crystal Darrington
You are so correct! Thank you for saying something about them not many have balls to do that.
Timothy Grasman
DeAnn Isenberg, God Bless you for your courage to speak out regarding this article. I am so tired of people trying to disparage Christ Followers. I do not attend Christ Church and have heard some of the mean and hateful things said about people of faith. Our world has turned upside down because so many people have lost their faith. If Christ Church is trying to bring people back to God, I am so for this movement. God Bless anyone that is trying to make this world a better place for our children.
Sarah
It is not the issue of Christianity. It is just christ church. As a church they are sensitive, racist and all around hateful. Christians as a whole show love, compassion and sensitivity in things they cannot accept. Christians church is the Westborough Baptist church of the west!
Kris
There are many cults who claim they are trying to bring people back to God. They are harmful and detrimental in the ways that they do it. They make people feel the opposite. You should call out false prophets and harmful leaders. They leave a bad taste in people's mouths and definitely don't make them want to have anything to do with Christianity.