2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? To invite Dr. Perhaps you are taking on a worldly definition of love? If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. 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. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. And thats part of the beauty I think of this story. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. "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." Sign up for our newsletter: 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. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. 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. 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. 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 two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. What challenges do you anticipate with the dynamic of pastoring two congregations? Meeks' retirement comes at a time when many longtime church leaders have been transitioning out of leadership as they contend with dwindling attendance and other ministry upheavals laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Butand this is no secretfor years it stayed in the vein of its history. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. I cant speak much about Salem Baptist Church (other than its known in the Black community here in Chicago due to its sheer size), but I do know Progressive. Everybody loves our old, respected leaders but I want to set an example that its okay to give the next generation an opportunity, Meeks adds. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. 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. 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. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. - 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. I just only pray he does not become spread too thin by leading two large churches. In addition, the 41-year-old also served under Meeks as primary preaching assistant, pastor of adult ministries, and director of church operations at Salem Baptist before becoming senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in 2011. Meeks serves on the Moody Bible Institute Trustee Board, and Dates has worked as an adjunct professor there. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. And while Progressive is a large congregation (around 1000 members), it doesnt come close to Salem (which has about 10,000). 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. 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 think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. Progressive Baptist Church. The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. 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. That was the last straw for Dates, he wrote in a column for Religion News Service. And the same for Salem, which might still have it. But the bones are good. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. From your posts (especially the prior one to this), it almost seems like your biggest qualification for a pastor is whether he or she makes you feel good; warm and fuzzy. I cant speak for them. 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 his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? The resistance, especially from some of our elderly membership, was swift and sincere. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. The mega church concept is already troublesome. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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 and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. We need new opportunities. 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 correct us from repeating errors and to inspire and to encourage us to pursue Gods great promise. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? 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. We need new ideas. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? Shes ready to work. 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. How has God moved and worked in ones life? My response to the above is that that kind of filling of your personal needs, i.e. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser, Days-long Revival Sweeping Asbury University in Kentucky, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Covered Up Pastors Sexual Abuse, Witnesses Say, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthurs Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show, Dante Bowe Posts, Then Removes, Apology for Behavior Causing Split with Maverick City Music, Matt Chandler Steps Aside After Admitting Inappropriate Online Relationship, John MacArthur Pulls Out of Ligonier Conference, Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair, Televangelist Creflo Dollar Renounces Past Teachings on Tithing, But Questions Persist. The mega church concept is already troublesome. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. Marin Dr. Charlie E. Dates currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois as well as Affiliate Professor of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and NFL Chaplain for the Chicago Bears. It's time for us to bring in new families. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. SBC events and church planting have grown more diverse over the past decade as leaders made a concerted effort to feature and invest in non-Anglo pastors. 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. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. Datess 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 denomination. He announced Sunday hell preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. What is liberalism to the conservative Southern Baptists? As one Conservative Baptist Network member said, they must constantly repent but can never actually be forgiven., A group of Southern Baptist pastors released a statement Friday voicing their opposition to any movement in the SBC that seeks to distract from racial reconciliation through the gospel and that denies the reality of systemic injustices.. Rev. The resolution clarified the theory could be employed, but only subordinate to Scripture.. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". Rev. Progressive is a church of five generations. With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. That is a concerning statement. We are not merging the two churches and Salem is not absorbing Progressive, Dates said. Salem has its own kind of DNA, Progressive her own . CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. I ADORE Charlie Dates. So for me, what attracted me was God. We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. In 2006, he began serving as the primary . Rev. I just checked and you can still see the tweet for yourself, he refused to delete it. 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. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. 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. 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. As a highly sought-after speaker, he is widely invited to preach at churches and speak at retreats, conferences, and universities throughout the United States and abroad. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. But what a blessing to the members of both congregations. 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. They would not. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. Two things. 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. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. 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. Thanks for the extra info here. 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. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He holds a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.