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. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. In a video posted Monday, Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation., The Bible says one man planteth and another man watereth, and God giveth the increase, he said in the video, with his wife Jamell Meeks, director of Salems womens ministries, at his side. 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. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. These churches are a gift. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. Progressive got insulated at one point. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Galatians 5: 13-14 | Pastor David Swanson, Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. Perhaps you are taking on a worldly definition of love? 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Their stand against racism rings hollow when in their next breath they reject theories that have been helpful in framing the problem of racism, he wrote, disappointed that the presidents would come together to speak out against it rather than turning their criticism toward other ills such a racism itself. Its important to highlight that this is not conventional. Shouldnt a competent, strong, wise pastor stir and challenge his flock, make their complacency seem uncomfortable? So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. 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? "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago by Pastor Charlie Dates. Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. Sign up now ! It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. 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. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. We want to celebrate YOU. But he added God is extending our platform and our reach to the point where Ill be able to provide pastoral leadership for both churches. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 In 2006, he began serving as the primary . Pastor Dates challenged me in how I was handling my grief, noted my verbal and body language pointed to some unrighteous anger and unforgiveness that I needed to confront in order to move forward in a Godly manner, gave me scriptures to pray and meditate on, and concluded by praying with me and having his wife Kirstie follow up with me. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. 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. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. Dr. Charlie Dates . And the same for Salem, which might still have it. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. 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. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. 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. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). They are ready to send their young students to the very seminaries that are both vestiges of racial animus and also the places where these harmful attitudes are perpetuated. Rev. Yeah thats in bad form. 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.. 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. Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. 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. 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. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. . Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The head of the SBCs National African American Fellowship, which had raised concerns about the critical race theory statement a week ago, said he was saddened by the announcements. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. 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. (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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . Thats the good ol boys club. 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. 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. Thanks for the extra info here. But the bones are good. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? 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. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? It does not store any personal data. On one hand, Progressive is what I would call progressively traditional, and Salem is traditionally progressive. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. 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. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. As for me, I will always be grateful. His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. 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. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. It's time for us to bring in young people. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. Hi. 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. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. We want to see our church grow. Dr. Charlie Dates will take his place. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. To invite Dr. 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. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. 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. 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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. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. Sign up for our newsletter: If tons and tons of people love them and how they make them feel thats pretty much a sign that they are doing the *opposite* of the Great Commission. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates and Ralph D. West spoke out in response to a controversial statement released by seminary presidents. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. and Ph.D. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity . "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. He announced Sunday hell preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. 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. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. Rev. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. Brian 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. "We can multiply that in evangelism, in discipleship, in educating our kids in reducing violence, shutting down liquor stores and opening up new opportunities to help rescue families and that's the church being the church.". Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. 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. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. My relationship with him is dynamic. Dates also is an affiliate professor at Baylor Universitys George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Texas and at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, according to his bio. 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. The average member was around before Charlie (hes been there ~10 years) and knows hes not the only one who can lead them. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Learn more. 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. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. 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). It's time for us to bring in new families. Not able to make? Marin Please click here to learn how. Rev. Progressive Baptist Church. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. "It's time for Salem to move forward. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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.. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. Preachers and teachers are there to instruct and shape us much like secular, academic teachers/professors. If we could look at the current moment and seize the opportunity to develop young people that God has laid his hand upon, then I think the best days of the church, in this critical culture, are in front of us. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. It is the work of that church, but its also Reverend Meeks, the pastor of that church. 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. 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 am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. 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. 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. 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. Rev. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. Just, wow. 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. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! All rights reserved. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. I just only pray he does not become spread too thin by leading two large churches. 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. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. 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. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. 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. 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. Sign up for our newsletter: Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. My response to the above is that that kind of filling of your personal needs, i.e. 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. 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?" 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. Are there things at Progressive you will have to step away from? For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. I have to lead through my leaders. 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. 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. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. 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. How will your role there look different? Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. 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 . Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. What I do sense is that theres still work to be done and vision to accomplish at Progressive at the same time that I begin my assignment at Salem. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. The resolution clarified the theory could be employed, but only subordinate to Scripture.. 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. 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. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. And if you think it feels good, warm and fuzzy to be confronted about your sin when youre in the middle of grief, you are VERY mistaken. They would not. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".