"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." Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. Progressive Baptist Church When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. We need new ideas. Charlie Dates - The Presbyterian Outlook Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. 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. 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.. 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. Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. That was the old Southern Baptists, I promised them and others in our church. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? They are to us what the Electoral College is to the United States: a body that no longer produces what it originally promised. How will your role there look different? That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. Biblical and Religious Studies Host Chicago Pastor for 2023 Dotson M The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. 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. The statementposted on the anniversary of the 13th amendment abolishing slaverycalled for collective repentance and criticized those who would downplay SBCs racial history or label others as critical race theorists for acknowledging systemic injustices. "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.". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. No One Knows. That Salem is a loving church ready to work. Adoring sounds like its crossed the line into idolatrysomething a lot of these guys at bare minimum do nothing to discourage, and a few outright seek. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. . Great Communicator Series: Powerful Insights for Preachers and Bible Im not in the weeds at Progressive. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. We need new opportunities. I like my pastor; I dont love him. Some Black Southern Baptists feel shut out by white leaders 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). Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. "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.". 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. Another prominent Black Baptist pastor publicly quits the SBC This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. 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. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". But there are others who sit close to power within the SBC and who are silent against the racism that plagues their own congregations. Charlie Dates | moodyaudio.com Pastor Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago lamented, "This is a very tiring conversation, not simply because of the events of recent weeks, but because this has been a 401-year . We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. Our History Progressive Baptist Church I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. 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. Sis Sharon Lillard Homegoing Service on Vimeo We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. 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. Its been anchored in the community. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. Wow, I never knew this, did TRR ever do an expose of this incident? Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. . Charlie Dates - Senior Pastor - Progressive Baptist Church - LinkedIn These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Their seminaries have hosted outstanding guest faculty and chapel speakers outside of their norm. 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. These churches are a gift. Nationally known pastor Rev. You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. Something is lost when a pastor becomes distanced from 99% of his church. 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. 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.". 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. 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. 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. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? 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. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". When Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Seminary, said the only politically moral option for Christians was the Republican Party, I asked other SBC leaders, good Christian men, to challenge him. I have to lead through my leaders. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. 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. His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. He shared a vision of revival. But in this instance, youre actually bothered (I guess Uncle Ruckus is what crosses your line, but not sons of b*ches or a**holes) AND questioning Charlie Datess salvation? To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Charlie Dates is pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. 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. The church actually changed the face of that community, he says. 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. Progressive Baptist Church. Marin Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Wheaton Koinonia | Yesterday, Charlie Dates, the Senior Pastor at 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. Progressive Baptist Church Chicago - YouTube Black Church Figures You Should Know: Dr. Charlie Dates 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). Thats the good ol boys club. Come stop by the north lobby to have your picture and/or video taken on March 19th and the 26th directly following service, As our church family continues to grow, we want to welcome our new members home. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. . Well, the Stewardship Ministry at ProgressiveChicago is excited to partner with The YWCA and Liberty Bank to offer a 6 hour in-person or virtual homebuyer's workshop. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. The hard reality of the seminary presidents statement is that Black people will never gain full equality in the Southern Baptist Convention. I had to tell my church I was wrong. Just goes to show that even in this day and age, after all thats happened, megachurches still value butts in the seats and the almighty dollar over holding celebrity pastors accountable for their actions and character. Dates 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, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. Great! Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. Dates's 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. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. The resolution clarified the theory could be employed, but only subordinate to Scripture.. 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. I took President Adam Greenways invitation to return as a statement of good faith, that the seminary wanted to welcome me and many other Black ministers to contribute to its legacy, he wrote. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. They would not. With no repentance of any kind and such bald-faced pride in his sin, it bears questioning whether Dates ever had a regenerative, salvific transformation in his heart to begin with. So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Chicago has rich Black churches throughout the South and West sides, in particular. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicagos 2011 mayoral race. - 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. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Thanks for the extra info here. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. They are selectively conservative. Two Prominent Pastors Break With SBC After Critical Race T | News 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. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. 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. 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. But the bones are good. Charlie Dates: The Worst of Times Needs the Best of - ChurchLeaders The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago Pastor: Dr. Charlie E. Dates Website: www.progressivechicago.org Giving/Donations: https://progressivechicago.org/give IG: Children are a gift from God. . 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 accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Just, wow. That was the last straw for Dates, he wrote in a column for Religion News Service. Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately? Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. I am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. Brian Progressive Baptist Church Chicago - YouTube Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. I left that conference feeling hopeful. It actually makes me think of Moses, who was advised on how to make leading the growing number of Israelites more manageable by placing them into groups and delegating. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30. 11,909 were here. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. Not able to make? After 11 years at Progressive and watching more than 1,000 people join that church in that time, its fair to say that I carry the DNA of both churches. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. To donate, click here. The mega church concept is already troublesome. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity).