Self-professed Christian nationalist Douglas Wilson is a rising star in the American evangelical firmament. He recently planted a new church on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attending, which is attracting national attention from outlets like CNN.
Wilson, a religious entrepreneur based in Moscow, Idaho, has created a denomination, a publishing house, a college, and a theological/cultural thought movement that appeals to postliberal Protestant intellectual young men. His role in creating the Christian classical school network has also added to his luster.
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Comment by Glenn Wheeler on August 18, 2025 at 12:28 am
That article reads like something you would expect to find in “The Christian Century” or “Sojourners.”
Comment by Gary Bebop on August 18, 2025 at 11:29 am
Though Mark Tooley is not one to sensationalize Douglas Wilson’s “rising stardom,” the author cherry picks his way through the new conversation to appropriate the bits he thinks will offend. Well, I could do that too with respect to United Methodism (Mark’s own sect). There’s a lot on the UMC record that might freak out any traditional conservative or moderate. Beyond that fact, I detect “envy” in what Mark addresses: he laments that liberal denominationalism has lost its cultural relevance. The project is dead. The reasons are many and varied. For starters, the public is not interested in a denomination that isn’t bearing children.
Comment by John on August 18, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Gary,
Mark Tooley is a Global Methodist now. The IRD helped bring about the conservative schism from The UMC. I’m sure whatever unfriendly things you might to say about The UMC would pale in comparison to what Tooley has said of the denomination for decades.
Comment by Gary Bebop on August 18, 2025 at 5:17 pm
You have your facts wrong, John. Mark Tooley is and remains a lifelong United Methodist. The IRD gave space for the disaffiliation struggle, but Mark did not change his own membership.
Comment by Thomas on August 18, 2025 at 8:05 pm
A quick Google search shows that Mark Tooley, while inititally reluctant, has been a strong supporter of the GMC. Can you please show any evidence that he remais in UMC, Gary Bebop?
Comment by Glenn Wheeler on August 18, 2025 at 10:52 pm
John,
The IRD did not help to bring about what you refer to as a “conservative schism.” It merely used that issue as a flashpoint to get readers and financial supporters.
Comment by Gary Bebop on August 18, 2025 at 11:56 pm
I know Mark Tooley personally. But in answer to a question, here’s more about Mark from the IRD: Prior to joining the IRD, Mark worked eight years for the Central Intelligence Agency. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and is a native of Arlington, Virginia. A lifelong United Methodist, he has been active in United Methodist renewal since 1988, when he wrote a study about denominational funding of pro-Marxist groups for his local congregation. He attends a United Methodist church in Alexandria, Virginia.
Comment by Gary Bebop on August 18, 2025 at 11:58 pm
I know Mark Tooley personally. But in answer to a question, here’s more about Mark from the IRD itself: Prior to joining the IRD, Mark worked eight years for the Central Intelligence Agency. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and is a native of Arlington, Virginia. A lifelong United Methodist, he has been active in United Methodist renewal since 1988, when he wrote a study about denominational funding of pro-Marxist groups for his local congregation. He attends a United Methodist church in Alexandria, Virginia.
Comment by Glenn Wheeler on August 19, 2025 at 12:37 am
Gary,
You shouldn’t have taken the mask off of him!!!
Comment by John on August 19, 2025 at 10:09 am
Some very odd comments in response to the article
Comment by Wilson R. on August 20, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Doug Wilson is one of the dogs Paul warned his readers to beware of.
The fact that he enjoys any influence at all tells you that there is a deep sickness in American Christianity.
Comment by Thomas on August 20, 2025 at 8:31 pm
Gary, I believe you know him personally but I have many doubts that Mark Tooley remains in UMC, or that is parish hasn`t joined GMC yet. Everything he writes shows that he is solidly on GMC side.
Comment by Cal on August 21, 2025 at 10:31 pm
What is interesting to me is that, inflammatory though he is, Wilson has an ardent constituency. Like Carl McIntire did, in days gone by. Wilson seems more astute though.
Comment by John on August 21, 2025 at 11:00 pm
Cal,
So did L. Ron Hubbard.
Comment by Thomas on August 26, 2025 at 7:46 pm
In fact Mark Tooley is still attending a conservative UMC parish. However he explains that this happens because there isn`t yet a GMC parish nearby. He recently published an article on IRD where he explains it.