Feel free to watch our services online! 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. We need new opportunities. No One Knows. 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. 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. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. 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. Children are a gift from God. And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. 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. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. 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. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicagos 2011 mayoral race. . I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. Charlie Dates and Ralph D. West spoke out in response to a controversial statement released by seminary presidents. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. Progressive Baptist Church. Photo courtesy of Charlie Dates. All rights reserved. As CT reported in August, there werent signs of a trend of majority-black churches leaving in the most recent denomination report from 2018, though the rates of growth year-over-year had slowed after shooting up in the early 2000s. To donate, click here. 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). Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. Ive learned there is an unwritten rule in the SBC: Dont criticize an entity head. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. Atlanta pastor John Onwuchekwa left the SBC over the summer due to concerns over its approach to racial issues. I like my pastor; I dont love him. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. That is a concerning statement. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Marin In 2020, Dates, married with two children, was among a number of black Christian church leaders to cut ties with the Southern Baptist Convention over a statement from the denomination's Council of Seminary Presidents denouncing racism and critical race theory. Our city and our nation need the black church to be her best and brightest self and now is the time for churches to be strong," he said. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. That is absolutely a legitimate human need but I just dont see it as within the job description of a servant-leader of men in the Epistles. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. 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. 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. They are happy to have a Black chapel speaker, the occasional conservative Black professor whose classes are not taken seriously or a Black employee who never bucks against their notions of superiority. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. But we can actually press into the current culture and lead our young people and train them to lead a revolution for the kingdom and the glory of God. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. Are there things at Progressive you will have to step away from? Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. 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 called him an Uncle Ruckus on twitter, which is a derogatory slur used to describe a black man that embraces the whiteness of society instead of resisting it. And Progressive only has one location. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Both Meeks and Dates also have a connection to the Moody Bible Institute. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. 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. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT: Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, Everything Everywhere All at Once and the Beautiful Mystery of Gods Silence. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. The resistance, especially from some of our elderly membership, was swift and sincere. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. Sad, but not at all surprising. 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. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. 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. 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. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. They would not. James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. The 65-year-old has been a pastor for 42 years and said he feels like hes got 42 more years in me. But Meeks added hes learned from King Davids life when its time to come off the battlefield.. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. The statement on critical race theory and intersectionality has soiled that good faith.. The young pastor said he had to convince his members that joining the denomination for the sake of mission partnerships would be a good move. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately? 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. I left that conference feeling hopeful. Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 He has a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication and rhetoric from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; a master of divinity degree and a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Rev. In the early discussion around the seminary presidents statement, which released last month, SBC president J. D. Greear recognized some of the issues with such emphasis on critical race theory (CRT) itself. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. 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. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. Do you have a birthday or anniversary next month? Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. 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. No one knows. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. To be clear, the SBC has some longstanding, credible Black pastors in its tribe, and I dont mean the kind who are tokens or assimilators. I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. 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. Neither am I saying that hes the only significant influence in my life. How will your role there look different? "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago by Pastor Charlie Dates. I cant speak for them. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. 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. 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. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. So for me, what attracted me was God. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. 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. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Book your appointment here. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. I will admit to knowing very little about Charlie Dates, but what Gus Chiggins posted is extremely concerning. 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. Respect and admire if they are capable, yes. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. That is a concerning statement. Let us know how we can pray for you and your family. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. I think that there is a place in the body of Christ for large and small churches alike; I have been a member of both at various points in my walk with Christ, and can speak to the benefits and challenges of both. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. In all that, he can never be criticized within his ranks. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. It's time for us to bring in new families. Charlie is the senior pastor a Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). I dont need to be Einstein to understand that with all these jobs he is not truly doing any of them full time. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. But there is nothing wrong with loving those who I do have personal relationships with, and have really left an impact on my faith, family, and heart.. What is liberalism to the conservative Southern Baptists? Progressive Baptist Church, a century-old historically Black congregation, was briefly part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). 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. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 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. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. It does not store any personal data. . 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. What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. 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. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. These have been disciple-making churches with an emphasis on Christian education. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. - 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. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30. Brian (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity). But Pastor Dates said, I know you probably dont like me right now, I can tell from how youre reacting to what Im saying; but Im not here to get you to like me. I can say Ive been called worse for going to white schools and belonging to white clubs, and Im kinda numb to it at my age. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. In 1998, Meeks led a push to close 26 liquor stores in a 19-block radius near Salem. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. 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. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? In a video of the announcement, Meeks said after he and his wife fasted and prayed about the succession of the ministry, they felt confident in selecting Dates. Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. I completely understand your concern, Tricia. In just our brief 15 minute interaction, he really ministered to me as he correctly sensed I was going through a season of loss that was challenging my faith. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. 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. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. 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. I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. 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. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. Charlie earned an M.Div. These churches are a gift. To them, a belief in a high view of Scripture must mean an adaptation of Republican politics and, with it, the dismissal of critical race theory and intersectionality because of a fear of liberalism. That said, our church has just as high a view (if not higher) of Scripture as any SBC church, but theirs is an inconsistent epistemology. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and adjunct at Baylor Universitys Truett Theological Seminary, West said he planned to withdraw from his current doctoral studies at Southwestern and will not associate with the SBC any longer. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. 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. 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. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Blessed to serve in the city in which he was born, Reverend Dr. Charlie E. Dates is Chicago through and through.
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