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. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Its more than just Progressive and Salem. Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. 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. This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. Logos of the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. Sign up now ! 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. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. He is a contributing author to Letters To A Birmingham Jail and Say It: Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition, and is currently working on his first single-authored book on Christianity and Social Justice. And I recognize that. 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. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. 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. 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. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. 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. To invite Dr. Rev. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. Yesterday, Charlie Dates, the Senior Pastor at Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church, gave a powerful biblical message addressing the recent killings of Auhmad Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. 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. Progressive is a church of five generations. SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. Chuck Smith himself, who started out as every kind of salt and light, found himself tempted by the limelight as he got bigger and bigger, and we saw more and more of his flaws as time went on. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. 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Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. That is a concerning statement. I plan to lead through leaders. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. My approach at Salem will be similar once I have learned again the way of the land. 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. I just checked and you can still see the tweet for yourself, he refused to delete it. Thats the good ol boys club. 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. Sign up for our newsletter: Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The church actually changed the face of that community, he says. One of the benefits at Progressive is that the operations of the church and systems and structures of the church, the day-to-day operations, are free to move independent of me. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. (RNS) In 2018, something happened at the MLK50 Conference in Memphis, an event co-hosted by the Southern Baptist Conventions policy arm and The Gospel Coalition. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. You sure seem ready to defend Trump and do the we dont know whats in his heart, only God knows if hes saved song and dance when it comes to explaining away Trumps lack of repentance or remorse for such language. Progressive got insulated at one point. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. 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 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 need new ideas. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Rev. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. That would just be weird. But dozens of majority-black churches are joining the SBC each year, so the numbers are still growingjust not as fast as they once were. He shared a vision of revival. The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. 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James Meeks announced Sunday that Pastor Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago will succeed him as leader of the 10,000-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago when he steps out of the role in January 2023. Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In 2011, at age 30, he became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 99-year history. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? 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. His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. 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. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. And Progressive only has one location. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. 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. And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. In op-eds announcing their decisions to leave, Charlie Dates of Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church and Ralph D. West of Houstons The Church Without Walls both criticized SBC seminary presidents declaration that critical race theory was incompatible with the denominations statement of faith. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. And I have loved various pastors like family; some have ministered to my family for DECADES, and have baptized, married, counseled, and even eulogized GENERATIONS of my family. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. . To a visitor entering the Northwest Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, on a recent Sunday, the assembly might have sounded like, The Rev. We want to celebrate YOU. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. The recent departures caught the attention of Southern Baptist leaders who were disappointed to see them go, particularly fellow African Americans. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. 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 had to tell my church I was wrong. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. Charlie Dates of the Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, one of the pastors who have already severed ties, said the November statement was "the last straw." "When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism?" Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. On Dec. 1, all six of the SBC seminary presidents without one Black president or counter opinion among them told the world that a high view of Scripture necessarily required a corresponding and total rejection of critical race theory and intersectionality. . We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. In his response, current SBC president Greear asked that fellow members of the denomination consider their concerns and suggested that there are things we can learn from worldly philosophies like critical race theory., Last week, prior to West and Datess announcements, Ausberry, who serves as SBC first vice president and head of the denominations National African American Fellowship, responded to the seminary presidents statement by saying that systemic racism exists and there are theories and constructs that help us to see and discover otherwise undetected, systemic racism in institutions and in ourselves., Especially for those of us who have experienced the brunt of systemic racism in our daily lives, our seminary presidents are good men and they had good intent, Ausberry said in an interview with Baptist Press, but the optics of six Anglo brothers meeting to discuss racism and other related issues without having ethnic representation in the room in 2020, at worst it looks like paternalism, at best insensitivity. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. Come stop by the north lobby to have your picture and/or video taken on March 19th and the 26th directly following service, As our church family continues to grow, we want to welcome our new members home. 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. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? Brian Around the country, people run into me and tell me, Oh I got baptized at that church, or Oh, I remember Sunday school at that church. Its legend and its lore is huge. 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. Its been anchored in the community. We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. 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. But the bones are good. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. 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. 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. 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. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Woke Wars infiltrate Christian colleges, prof under fire for racial justice unit, Southern Baptists oust Rick Warrens Saddleback Church for naming a female pastor, Professor Joeckel on why his contract, teachings on racial justice are under review, Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. Ive learned there is an unwritten rule in the SBC: Dont criticize an entity head. Charlie earned an M.Div. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. Feel free to watch our services online! Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Also, while there are many people in the comment section who rightfully call him to repent over it, there are plenty of others, including names such as Lecrae and Kyle J Howard, who tweeted their approval of his use of the slur. 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. 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. 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. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. and pro football. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. "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."