Hmm. Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. How did they, who in 2020 still dont have a single Black denominational entity head, reject once and for all a theory that helps to frame the real race problems we face? Dates wrote in an op-ed Friday for the Religion News Service. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Since then, conservative groups have been more vocal about what they see as an embrace of critical race theory and secular thinking by seminaries and denominational leaders, with the newly formed Conservative Baptist Network being among the most vocal opponents. Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. While continuing to lead Progressive Baptist, the 41-year-old pastor was named the successor to James Meeks at Salem Baptist Church, one of the citys biggest congregations. So, I propose to you that we need a new organism, not led in full by white men; a Christian collective that makes room for the essentials of the faith and the diversity of the Church; a robust engine that finances the impoverished sides of the Church, speaks justice courageously to the government and cares gently for the oppressed, marginalized and women. Im working to discern Gods direction as it relates to timing of when to conclude. Im not sure I understand your point. Preachers and teachers are there to instruct and shape us much like secular, academic teachers/professors. . Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. He announced Sunday hell preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago Pastor: Dr. Charlie E. Dates Website: www.progressivechicago.org Giving/Donations: https://progressivechicago.org/give IG: If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Progressive Baptist Church. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30 and in January 2023, he became the senior pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. With no repentance of any kind and such bald-faced pride in his sin, it bears questioning whether Dates ever had a regenerative, salvific transformation in his heart to begin with. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Hi. Progressive is a church of five generations. It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? And Im not sure how bringing up holy men of other faiths comes into it I was at a Christian event seeking Biblically-rooted ministry, and thats what Pastor Dates and his wife provided. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. I cant speak for them. That Salem is a loving church ready to work. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. As I am contemplating leaving my current evangelical church, Progressive is on my list of places Im considering and praying about for a new church home, and a lot of it is due to the Dates family. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. To donate, click here. I dont know anything about Pastor Dates using a slur I havent heard anything about it, nor do I know anything about the context, response, or outcomes. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Yeah thats in bad form. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Weve got to be able to have our 12 stones from our Chicago Jordan River, with a keen eye on the hills and mountains of Jericho and the other cities in Canaan. He announced Sunday he'll preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. Not able to make? To invite Dr. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. And I think we can develop a platform, a pipeline to invite those who feel that burden of call to grow them and to release them to do that," he added. If I can help these churches recognize Gods hand in their past as a kind of indication of God, of what God wants to do in the future, then I think I can hand it off to the next generation in good fashion. But some have grown frustrated with their position in a denomination that remains largely white (African Americans make up just 6 percent of Southern Baptists, according to Pew Research Center). The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. That is a concerning statement. 99% of these megachurch icons and celebrities were nowhere near as righteous as Smith to start with, and only continue to deteriorate from that starting point, with time and fame. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. If that is YOUR definition of ministering to someone (because that is the language I used, and you jumped to that conclusion), YOU need to revisit it. Logos of the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When I came to Progressive, it took me a while to actually get my feet under me because of some of the history and nature of the church, and it required a lot of patience and long-suffering initially. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. I also understand how a personal relationship strengthens that love; that is the importance of us having relationships in the body of Christ. The church actually changed the face of that community, he says. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. Its more than just Progressive and Salem. Dates's 100-year-old congregation only began affiliating with the SBC last year, joining as a dual affiliate with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, a mainline, African American. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. I think the distinction is that I can serve Salem well by loving her through the preaching ministry and pastoral care, and she will follow. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? 11,909 were here. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. But in this instance, youre actually bothered (I guess Uncle Ruckus is what crosses your line, but not sons of b*ches or a**holes) AND questioning Charlie Datess salvation? 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Brian I dont even know what sort of issue Dates had with whoever (again, Im rarely on social media), but even I can spot your bias here. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. Its kind of like a kid learning a language; when youre immersed in the language, no one has to tell you what words mean and what signals mean.. Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? How has he influenced you? Martin L. King Jr. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of his assassination, it was as if they had come to reckon with the ghosts of their past and the theological underpinnings that ignored his ministry. I would think its a good thing that I can speak from personal experience with the Dates, instead of some sort of I read his book fan club adoration. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. Sign up for our newsletter: Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. I had to tell my church I was wrong. In 2011, Reverend Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor to serve the historic Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, which saw exponential growth under his leadership. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Charlie is the senior pastor a Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church. Its important to highlight that this is not conventional. He is a contributing author to the 2014 book Letters To A Birmingham Jail, and the 2019 book, Say It: Celebrating Expository Preaching in The African American Tradition. Im just saying that at the juncture were in and being a son of the soil of Chicago and a son of Salem, and now having pastored Progressive, I just think I have a unique understanding and relational dynamic with both churches. But the bones are good. When Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Seminary, said the only politically moral option for Christians was the Republican Party, I asked other SBC leaders, good Christian men, to challenge him. We were already working with the SBC on a training program at our church, and almost all of the Illinois Baptist State and SBC national leaders I had met seemed aware that their forefathers fell woefully short of any standard of biblical justice. After the retirement of its founder James Meeks, fellow South Side pastor Charlie Dates will become senior pastor of one of Chicagos biggest megachurches, Salem Baptist Church, returning to the ministry that shaped him as a kid and succeeding one of his greatest mentors in the faith. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' And the same for Salem, which might still have it. How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. Meeks, who is now 65 and served three terms as a state senator, told his congregation that he will preach his final sermon on Jan. 8, 2023, just five days before the church's 38th anniversary. Wow, I never knew this, did TRR ever do an expose of this incident? They are good men who are sending a big message to the SBC, said Marshal Ausberry. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. And if you have a testimony of the amazing things God is doing in your life through our ministry, please email it to info@progressivechicago.org. So Im not in a position to speak on that. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT: After Chaos and Crisis, Beth Moore Still Finds Refuge in the Church, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, I Was the Proverbial, Drug-Fueled Rock and Roller, Everything Everywhere All at Once and the Beautiful Mystery of Gods Silence. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate Professor of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This shaped his approach to preaching and his thoughts about the transformative role the Black church plays in bringing about the flourishing of a people.Dr. Over the summer, Dates discussed with CT his frustration with the lack of diversity among SBCs recently appointed entity heads, all of whom are white men, and the inconsistent support for racial justice causes. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. I think these churches, with the history, the power, and relevance they have, can help shape a pipeline and platform for developing young people, young leaders, teachers, preachers, music ministry leaders, and nonprofit developers that Chicago needs these churches to develop across platforms. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. Mohler, to take one example, endorsed a philandering, racist president, thereby betraying his Black and brown Christian family. As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. View Charlie Dates' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. I would rather not compare them, only because I wouldnt want to say the wrong thing and have someone read it and judge my intent. After 11 years at Progressive and watching more than 1,000 people join that church in that time, its fair to say that I carry the DNA of both churches. Amen to thateven if the pastor in question is the Godliest guy on the planet to start with, which is seldom if ever the case. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. The pastor of Progressive at the time, his name was Reverend T. Brown, he was such a dynamic leader in the city that he was able to tell [former Chicago mayor] Richard J. Daley, No. And live to tell about it. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. 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You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. Book your appointment here. The mega church concept is already troublesome. He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicagos 2011 mayoral race. . If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? Last month, in a joint statement and individual remarks, the six presidents of SBC seminaries called critical race theory unbiblical and instead emphasized the need to turn to Christian teachings alone, not secular ideas, to confront racism. Ill be here every Sunday and through the week as I normally am, Dates said. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? Progressive Baptist Church (map) Google Calendar ICS Join us in the sanctuary from 4pmCT -6pmCT as we meet and greet political candidates running to be the mayor of our great city this upcoming Spring. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. "And God has blessed us with our own son who has agreed starting January 15th, 2023, to be the next pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.". What I benefit from is far greater than just a tip from him here or there; its more of a model of a life lived. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. You know, at one point, Progressive had the strongest and largest Christian discipleship ministry in the city. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. I imagine they provide cover for the SBC leadership to further alienate Black and brown Christians who do not ascribe to their heritage of dangerous conservatism. It's time for us to bring in new families. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. Rev. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. Chicago has rich Black churches throughout the South and West sides, in particular. Before his call to Progressive, he served as an apprentice pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois, and as a pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Chicago. The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Speaking with CT, Dates drew parallels to Paul and Timothy, referencing Pauls instructions to the younger leader based on what he had witnessed firsthand in ministry. I dont see anything wrong with loving those who Christ calls us to love, which includes our brothers and sisters in Christ (that includes pastors). We want to see our church grow. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. Im here to speak the truth in love to you to keep you from going down a path that may seem comforting to you now, but it will ensnare you.. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. Charlie served as an apprentice to Pastor K. Edward Copeland and started his formal, practical training at the New Zion Baptist Church of Rockford, Illinois. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. But you seem determined to dismiss or belittle it in some sort of attempt to insult the Dates and me. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas.

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