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. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. 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. But I do sense and feel that a lot of the progress that Ive been able to make in the pastorate is connected in some way to his tutelage, his leadership, and his spiritual fathering, so to speak. Standing in the pulpit on Sunday at the House of, Feet splashed in puddles on a rainy Sunday afternoon as almost 1,000 people came together in Smyrna, a small town in Middle. It seems to me that God has been up to this, directing this well before I could tell. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. This isnt something that I read or something that I watched; this is a ministry that I participated in and had a front row seat to as a kid, said Dates, who grew up at Salem and attended its former school, Salem Christian Academy. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. 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. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL To invite Dr. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. - Charlie Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, a church aligned with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, a mostly Black denomination, and also with the Illinois Baptist State Association, which is an SBC affiliate. . Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. . Not able to make? Ill tell you: abolition, the womens suffrage movement, the civil rights movement, a Black U.S. president who was initially against partial-birth abortion, non-white male faculty at their seminaries and now a theory that uncovers our nations de jure and de facto segregation. I dont know if Id recommend this to anybody. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. Let us know how we can pray for you and your family. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Through his passion for learning, living, and teaching the Gospel, Dr. Charlie serves as an Affiliate Professor at Baylor University- George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Wheaton College. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. 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. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. I had the privilege of not only hearing him preach as a guest speaker at my church, but also meeting him after a singles event hosted by Progressive. The average member was around before Charlie (hes been there ~10 years) and knows hes not the only one who can lead them. I cant speak for them. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. He was also on staff at Salem Baptist for five years as Meeks preaching assistant before becoming Progressives youngest-ever senior pastor at age 30. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. Im still surprised Charlie Dates wasnt forced to step down after he publicly used a racial slur against Virgil Walker on social media last year. As for me, I will always be grateful. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. 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.. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago Pastor: Dr. Charlie E. Dates Website: www.progressivechicago.org Giving/Donations: https://progressivechicago.org/give IG: Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Brian I see the Pauline example in the Gospel of teachers/leaders being figures that we seek and respect for guidance and direction and boundaries, and not necessarily the same functions that friends and family (in or outside of the church) perform. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Just, wow. Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. fellowship and personal friendship, could have been met by a holy man of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other world religionor by a secular counselor or self-help advocate. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Wests The Church Without Walls (originally Brookhollow Baptist Church) has ranked among the 100 biggest in the country and averages 9,000 people in weekly attendance, according to its site. Thats the old SBC. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. 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. That would just be weird. The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. Both Meeks and Dates also have a connection to the Moody Bible Institute. Theres something about the formation of my mind and my theological heart that is directly shaped by and impacted by watching all of that, and working in all of that, as I came of age, he said. To a visitor entering the Northwest Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, on a recent Sunday, the assembly might have sounded like, The Rev. But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? Its the same approach that created President Donald Trump, that makes sure that no Republican leader will challenge him publicly. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. No one knows. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. The mega church concept is already troublesome. Just goes to show that even in this day and age, after all thats happened, megachurches still value butts in the seats and the almighty dollar over holding celebrity pastors accountable for their actions and character. When did those who have yet to hire multiple Black or brown faculty at their seminaries assume ethical authority on the subject of systemic injustice? After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. Nationally known pastor Rev. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. On March 27-28, Dates will give a sermon and lecture at Samford University for the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies annual Dotson M. Nelson Lecture. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. I also understand how a personal relationship strengthens that love; that is the importance of us having relationships in the body of Christ. Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately?. And Progressive only has one location. . The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. "There is a young man in our midst who is an exceptional preacher," Pastor Meeks told congregants Sunday, calling Charlie Dates both "called" and "qualified." @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! The SBC experienced a 43 percent jump in majority-black churches between 1998 and 2002, compared to 11 percent over the most recent four years. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Sign up for our newsletter: And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). In 2011, at age 30, Rev. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. 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. 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. Dr. Charlie Dates . Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? No One Knows. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. We haveI thinka very Paul and Timothy kind of relationship. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. Great! With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Dates holds a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication & Rhetoric from the University of Illinois - Champaign, Urbana, where he met his wife, Kirstie, who not only changed his life, but also elevated his approach to living. Salem has not lost its relevance, Salem has not lost its edge, while maintaining a very high view of Scripture and its very Christo-centric approach to ministry. 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. What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? What challenges do you anticipate with the dynamic of pastoring two congregations? I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. To start, Dates will keep his current post as senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church, a 15-minute drive from the House of Hope arena where Salem Baptist meets. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. 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. 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. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. No. Part of what Im learning and discerning about Gods direction for ones life is to pay close attention to the bend of ones spiritual biography. Dubois, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Mcloud - Bethune, Dr. Charlies orientation and early formation were significantly bent toward the theological reflection of Black people. For the second time in two days, a prominent Black pastor has publicly quit the Southern Baptist Convention over its seminary presidents' campaign against Critical Race Theory. I also want to suggest that Chicago, and America, needs churches that are developing and reproducing young pastors, that we become more intentional about it. These have been disciple-making churches with an emphasis on Christian education. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. 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. September 3, 2021 at 1:54 p.m. EDT. Were living in a time where so many young people are walking away from the church and where church attendance numbers are in the dumps. (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Some worry that a systemic view of racism, where a person is considered privileged or disadvantaged in society because of their race, conflicts with Christian beliefs about forgiveness or people holding equal value before God. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! I will admit to knowing very little about Charlie Dates, but what Gus Chiggins posted is extremely concerning. Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. 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. "We want to see our church be vibrant. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). The mega church concept is already troublesome. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Dr. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? We need new ideas. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. True authentic faith is going to be limited to a tiny remnant in the last days; the separation of wheat and tares is being done as we speak. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Earlier this month, Saddleback Church co-founders Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, named Andy Wood of Echo.Church in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Stacie, as their successors, starting in September. . For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Im working to discern Gods direction as it relates to timing of when to conclude. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read. But what a blessing to the members of both congregations. That is exactly what I am objecting to though the fact that there is no way he can minister to 11,000 people in the way that he ministered to you. 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. Charlie E. Dates is the senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church and Progressive Baptist Church, two of the oldest and largest historically Black churches in Chicago, Illinois. 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. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. Rev. and pro football. 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. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. 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Shes ready to work. 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). To invite Dr. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates.
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