September 3, 2021 at 1:54 p.m. EDT. 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. Meeks, who plans to stay involved with Hope of House, Salems philanthropic organization, is one of the latest longtime U.S. church leaders to step down. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. They are selectively conservative. 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. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' 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. Charlie is the senior pastor a Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates and Ralph D. West spoke out in response to a controversial statement released by seminary presidents. 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. 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? The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". On one hand, Progressive is what I would call progressively traditional, and Salem is traditionally progressive. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. In the early discussion around the seminary presidents statement, which released last month, SBC president J. D. Greear recognized some of the issues with such emphasis on critical race theory (CRT) itself. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. But you seem determined to dismiss or belittle it in some sort of attempt to insult the Dates and me. 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 a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately? Welcome to the weekly podcast of Progressive Baptist Church with Pastor and Author, Dr. Charlie Dates. But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. 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. 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. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Our city and our nation need the black church to be her best and brightest self and now is the time for churches to be strong," he said. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Progressive Baptist Church (map) Google Calendar ICS Join us in the sanctuary from 4pmCT -6pmCT as we meet and greet political candidates running to be the mayor of our great city this upcoming Spring. "It's time for Salem to move forward. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. 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.. I dont know if Id recommend this to anybody. The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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. From 2016 to 2019, too, I preached on the campuses of four of the SBC seminaries and had been invited to another. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. 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. The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Dr. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. Rev. I think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The recent departures caught the attention of Southern Baptist leaders who were disappointed to see them go, particularly fellow African Americans. Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? Neither am I saying that hes the only significant influence in my life. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates Returns to the Chicago Church that Shaped Him While continuing to lead Progressive Baptist, the 41-year-old pastor was named the successor to James Meeks at Salem Baptist. When did those who have yet to hire multiple Black or brown faculty at their seminaries assume ethical authority on the subject of systemic injustice? How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. 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. Sign up for our newsletter: Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? 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. I plan to lead through leaders. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. "We want to see our church be vibrant. So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. I dont come out of thin air to either church; you can trace my lineage. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. 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. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately?. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. Rev. SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. 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. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago Pastor: Dr. Charlie E. Dates Website: www.progressivechicago.org Giving/Donations: https://progressivechicago.org/give IG: Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 That was the old Southern Baptists, I promised them and others in our church. Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. When I came to Progressive, it took me a while to actually get my feet under me because of some of the history and nature of the church, and it required a lot of patience and long-suffering initially. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? 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. Just, wow. 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. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. 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. 11,909 were here. What kind of repentance did he show and how has he made amends? I just only pray he does not become spread too thin by leading two large churches. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I see the Pauline example in the Gospel of teachers/leaders being figures that we seek and respect for guidance and direction and boundaries, and not necessarily the same functions that friends and family (in or outside of the church) perform. 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. James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. Charlie Dates is pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago. The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. 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. That history is enormous. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. Do you have a birthday or anniversary next month? 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. 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. Dr. Charlie Dates . Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. Two things. 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. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. That is a concerning statement. What happend to your, well Jesus called the Pharisees wolves and a whole lot other mean words' defense (like when Trump called people sons of b*tches and a**holes)? He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. My response to the above is that that kind of filling of your personal needs, i.e. Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. Progressive is a church of five generations. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city. Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. Im not sure I understand your point. 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. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. We want to celebrate YOU. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. 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. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . Rev. 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. 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. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. 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. 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. Rev. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. They are good men who are sending a big message to the SBC, said Marshal Ausberry. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. Its been anchored in the community. 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. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. 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., He came out of our church, says Meeks, and its time for young people to step up and be given a chance.. 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. In 2006, he began serving as the primary . I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. 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. These churches are a gift. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. To correct us from repeating errors and to inspire and to encourage us to pursue Gods great promise. Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. All rights reserved. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). 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. The church actually changed the face of that community, he says. 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. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. 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. Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Butand this is no secretfor years it stayed in the vein of its history. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Rev. 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. 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. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. 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. 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. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30 and in January 2023, he became the senior pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. Both of them have produced some stalwart Christian leaders and teachers. 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. 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. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. 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. . 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. The resolution clarified the theory could be employed, but only subordinate to Scripture.. We were already working with the SBC on a training program at our church, and almost all of the Illinois Baptist State and SBC national leaders I had met seemed aware that their forefathers fell woefully short of any standard of biblical justice. As I am contemplating leaving my current evangelical church, Progressive is on my list of places Im considering and praying about for a new church home, and a lot of it is due to the Dates family. 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. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. and pro football. 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. Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. They are happy to have a Black chapel speaker, the occasional conservative Black professor whose classes are not taken seriously or a Black employee who never bucks against their notions of superiority. And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. Rev. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. 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