And thats part of the beauty I think of this story. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Just, wow. 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. Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. We want to celebrate YOU. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. 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. Image courtesy of Baptist Press. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city. How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? 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. Nationally known pastor Rev. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? 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. 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? 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. 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. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. In 1998, Meeks led a push to close 26 liquor stores in a 19-block radius near Salem. 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. 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. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. These churches are a gift. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . No. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. 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.. Nationally known pastor Rev. . Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. He was elected in March by an overwhelming majority, the largest vote received by any pastor in Progressive's rich history. Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately?. To donate, click here. 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. 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. 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 has not lost its relevance, Salem has not lost its edge, while maintaining a very high view of Scripture and its very Christo-centric approach to ministry. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? Their seminaries have hosted outstanding guest faculty and chapel speakers outside of their norm. 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. 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. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Shouldnt a competent, strong, wise pastor stir and challenge his flock, make their complacency seem uncomfortable? SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. (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. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? That Salem is a loving church ready to work. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How has he influenced you? Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. On one hand, Progressive is what I would call progressively traditional, and Salem is traditionally progressive. Respect and admire if they are capable, yes. Do you have a birthday or anniversary next month? "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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. Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? I wonder how many of them provide full time paychecks. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. As for me, I will always be grateful. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. 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. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Rev. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. Photo courtesy of Charlie Dates. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. Mohler, to take one example, endorsed a philandering, racist president, thereby betraying his Black and brown Christian family. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. I dont need to be Einstein to understand that with all these jobs he is not truly doing any of them full time. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. 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. The Rev. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. 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. Progressive got insulated at one point. 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. The resistance, especially from some of our elderly membership, was swift and sincere. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Children are a gift from God. And Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren is retiring this September. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). 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. 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. Progressive Service Time 9:30am 3658 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago Coming Up. 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. And the same for Salem, which might still have it. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. "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." James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. 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. It took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. It is the work of that church, but its also Reverend Meeks, the pastor of that church. 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. 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. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. How has God moved and worked in ones life? My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. He announced Sunday he'll preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". That history is enormous. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. 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. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. We need new ideas. To a visitor entering the Northwest Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, on a recent Sunday, the assembly might have sounded like, The Rev. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. Thats the old SBC. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? Im working to discern Gods direction as it relates to timing of when to conclude. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. 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 just checked and you can still see the tweet for yourself, he refused to delete it. 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. 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. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. Perspective by Charlie Dates. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. My response to the above is that that kind of filling of your personal needs, i.e. 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 of Chicago | Chicago IL Brian After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. 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. Galatians 5: 13-14 | Pastor David Swanson, Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. No One Knows. 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. 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 . I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. "We want to see our church be vibrant. 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. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. I dont come out of thin air to either church; you can trace my lineage. So Im not in a position to speak on that. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively.