But the bones are good. 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. Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . 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 cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). . And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). It took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. The mega church concept is already troublesome. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. 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. Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". To correct us from repeating errors and to inspire and to encourage us to pursue Gods great promise. Our History Progressive Baptist Church Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. 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. Rev. 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. 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. How will your role there look different? Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". 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. 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. 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. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. "It's time for Salem to move forward. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. 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. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL - Facebook He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. "And God has blessed us with our own son who has agreed starting January 15th, 2023, to be the next pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.". . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? Learn more. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. What challenges do you anticipate with the dynamic of pastoring two congregations? I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. Black Church Figures You Should Know: Dr. Charlie Dates They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. 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Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. I like my pastor; I dont love him. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. 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. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. 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. 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. 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. I have to lead through my leaders. Pastor Charlie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Rhetoric at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and both a Master of Divinity Degree and PhD at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School . Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. 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. We want to see younger families come to our church and the last thing that we want is to stand in the way of that.". I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. 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. We need new opportunities. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. Two things. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. I had to tell my church I was wrong. The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. 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. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. The average member was around before Charlie (hes been there ~10 years) and knows hes not the only one who can lead them. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. Logos of the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. Feel free to watch our services online! So for me, what attracted me was God. That was the old Southern Baptists, I promised them and others in our church. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. What is liberalism to the conservative Southern Baptists? September 3, 2021 at 1:54 p.m. EDT. Return to homepage. Wheaton Koinonia | Yesterday, Charlie Dates, the Senior Pastor at Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". . Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. 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 the distinction is that I can serve Salem well by loving her through the preaching ministry and pastoral care, and she will follow. That is a concerning statement. 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.. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mohler, to take one example, endorsed a philandering, racist president, thereby betraying his Black and brown Christian family. Progressive Baptist Church Podcast on Apple Podcasts Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' These churches are a gift. I dont know if Id recommend this to anybody. There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. Not able to make? 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. 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. The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. 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. "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." Some Black Southern Baptists feel shut out by white leaders 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. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. Shouldnt a competent, strong, wise pastor stir and challenge his flock, make their complacency seem uncomfortable? Chicago megachurch pastor to retire, names successor | Church Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. Blessed to serve in the city in which he was born, Reverend Dr. Charlie E. Dates is Chicago through and through. Thanks for the extra info here. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. 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. 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. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. In all that, he can never be criticized within his ranks. That would just be weird. Meet Our Pastor Progressive Baptist Church Marin He opposed the legalization of gay marriage,called for a boycott over funding disparities at Chicago Public Schools, and once served as spiritual adviser to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. 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. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. . Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. 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. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read. Rev. To donate, becoming Progressives youngest-ever senior pastor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago Unity Service Brings Together Christians Across Ethnic Lines, Chicago Pastor James Meeks Bids Tearful Farewell After 38 Years at Salem Baptist, Tennessee Charity Walk to Fund Needed Wells Persists Despite Rainy Conditions, Eden Village Ministry Aims to End Homelessness Through Tiny Home Communities, Gateway Seminary to Fund Short-Term Mission Trips for All Students, Vineyard Pastor Resigns, Wont Cooperate With Probe Into Sons Alleged Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. 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. As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. And thats part of the beauty I think of this story. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. Are there things at Progressive you will have to step away from? Nationally known pastor Rev. Charlie served as an apprentice to Pastor K. Edward Copeland and started his formal, practical training at the New Zion Baptist Church of Rockford, Illinois. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. and Ph.D. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity . Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. 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. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). "Give Me My Mountain" | Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. 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. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. 11,909 were here. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Sure, there were more battles to be won before legitimate change would warm the hearts of African American churches like ours, but thats why our movement felt almost prophetic. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. 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 walk with you and your family in every step of the way. 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. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. Rev. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. 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. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity). 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. Progressive got insulated at one point. 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.. And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. 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. Rev. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. Great Communicator Series: Powerful Insights for Preachers and Bible Thats their choice. 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? Sign up now ! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. That was the last straw for Dates, he wrote in a column for Religion News Service. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. 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. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. Charlie Dates Sad, but not at all surprising. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? And I think we can develop a platform, a pipeline to invite those who feel that burden of call to grow them and to release them to do that," he added. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. How has he influenced you? In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. ), Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. He announced Sunday hell preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. 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. 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. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. Chapel - Charlie Dates This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Image courtesy of Baptist Press. The Rev. 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. The hard reality of the seminary presidents statement is that Black people will never gain full equality in the Southern Baptist Convention. 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. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. 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. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. 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. The recent departures caught the attention of Southern Baptist leaders who were disappointed to see them go, particularly fellow African Americans. And the same for Salem, which might still have it. 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. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read..