A Franklin venue is set to host a controversial pastor known for defending slavery and opposing women's right to vote during a conference Oct. 1-3.
Doug Wilson is one of the scheduled speakers for the Fight Laugh Feast Conference 2026 at The Factory at Franklin. The Idaho pastor co-founded the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a coalition of theologically conservative and hard-right churches
.According to independent news outlet The Conversation, the CREC adheres to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “a woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is among Wilson's supporters and has invited the pastor to give a sermon at the Pentagon.
Wilson regularly advocates for a government dictated by religion and his planned appearance at First Laugh Feast's "Holy Wars: Just War, the Crusades, and the Christian Life" conference has drawn backlash and a petition against it.
Here's what to know about his visit:
Who is Doug Wilson?
Wilson is a conservative pastor who first began preaching at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and has grown his reach to more than 150 churches worldwide through the CREC, which is seen asan important group in the Christian nationalism movement.
He first rose to prominence after publicly defending slavery, writing in one booklet that it produced "affection between the races," and has used his pulpit to advocate for repealing the 19th Amendment (which gave women the right to vote) and criminalizing homosexuality.
In a 2025 interview with CNN, he said he was "grateful" the institution was gone, but stated that some slave owners were "decent human beings."
Defense Secretary Hegseth invited the pastor to give a sermon at the Pentagon in February, according to The Washington Post. During his time living in Middle Tennessee, Hegseth attended the CREC-linked Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, located on the edge of Nashville.
Why is Doug Wilson coming to Franklin, Tennessee?
Wilson is slated to appear for a talk titled "Unholy Wars: Slavery, Jews, and Your Mouth" during the Fight Laugh Feast Conference at The Factory at Franklin.
The conference is organized by a conservative Christian media company of the same name that is strongly linked to Wilson's CREC. Gabriel Rench, a co-founder of the Fight Laugh Feast network, wasa deacon at Christ Church in Idaho in 2021, according to KTVB.
Under the theme of "Holy Wars: Just War, the Crusades, and the Christian Life," the conference will include figures "from the front lines of theology, history and cultural engagement," according to its website.
Dough Wilson appearance draws backlash
A Sept. 24 petition titled "Stop Hate Speech @ Factory at Franklin" has gained more than 700 signatures as of Sept. 25 and demands that The Factory's owners "reconsider their decision" to host Wilson and the conference. If not, the petition states that there will be a boycott of the mall.
"The Factory at Franklin is more than just a venue. It's a community gathering space where families, friends, and neighbors come together to share and celebrate our collective achievements," the petition reads. "By hosting Doug Wilson, we risk legitimizing his views and tarnishing the reputation of a beloved community hub."
Antifascist 615, a left-wing mobilization group based in Nashville, is also planning a sidewalk protest for Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. outside The Factory.
"Pete Hegseth's pastor seeks to take Christ out of Christianity at his Conference," an Instagram postadvertising the demonstration reads. "Join us as we gather to rebuke him..."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who is Doug Wilson? Why his Franklin appearance is drawing backlash
