This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. 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. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. 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. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. He holds a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. 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. 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. 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 is set to succeed Rev. 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. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. 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. 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. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). And if you think it feels good, warm and fuzzy to be confronted about your sin when youre in the middle of grief, you are VERY mistaken. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. To invite Dr. My approach at Salem will be similar once I have learned again the way of the land. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. 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. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. All rights reserved. On one hand, Progressive is what I would call progressively traditional, and Salem is traditionally progressive. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. But Pastor Dates said, I know you probably dont like me right now, I can tell from how youre reacting to what Im saying; but Im not here to get you to like me. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. No One Knows. Thanks for the extra info here. The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? Around the country, people run into me and tell me, Oh I got baptized at that church, or Oh, I remember Sunday school at that church. Its legend and its lore is huge. I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. ), Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Dr. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. 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. These churches are a gift. What challenges do you anticipate with the dynamic of pastoring two congregations? 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.. The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. 11,909 were here. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. So Im not in a position to speak on that. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". Rev. I like my pastor; I dont love him. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. 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. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. Progressive Service Time 9:30am 3658 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago Coming Up. 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 does not store any personal data. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. 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.. . Progressive Baptist Church. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. "We want to see our church be vibrant. 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. Feel free to watch our services online! Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Two things. 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. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Progressive is a church of five generations. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? 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. James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago by Pastor Charlie Dates. Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. 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. Ill be here every Sunday and through the week as I normally am, Dates said. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. Pastor Dates challenged me in how I was handling my grief, noted my verbal and body language pointed to some unrighteous anger and unforgiveness that I needed to confront in order to move forward in a Godly manner, gave me scriptures to pray and meditate on, and concluded by praying with me and having his wife Kirstie follow up with me. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church one of Chicago's biggest megachurches. 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. But there are others who sit close to power within the SBC and who are silent against the racism that plagues their own congregations. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. 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. In a video of the announcement, Meeks said after he and his wife fasted and prayed about the succession of the ministry, they felt confident in selecting Dates. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. To correct us from repeating errors and to inspire and to encourage us to pursue Gods great promise. Dr. Charlie Dates . Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. 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. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. Sad, but not at all surprising. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Shes ready to work. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". 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. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. I think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. Chuck Smith himself, who started out as every kind of salt and light, found himself tempted by the limelight as he got bigger and bigger, and we saw more and more of his flaws as time went on. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. Sign up for our newsletter: If we in the SBC had shown as much sorrow for the painful legacy that sin has left as we show passion to decry CRT, we probably wouldnt be in this mess., Critical race theory isnt clearly defined, but generally refers to an approach to racism as systemic and embedded in society. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. . Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. 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.. "It's time for Salem to move forward. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Not able to make? He was also on staff at Salem Baptist for five years as Meeks preaching assistant before becoming Progressives youngest-ever senior pastor at age 30. We need new ideas. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Sign up now ! It's time for us to bring in young people. While continuing to lead Progressive Baptist, the 41-year-old pastor was named the successor to James Meeks at Salem Baptist Church, one of the citys biggest congregations. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. I dont come out of thin air to either church; you can trace my lineage. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. 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. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. 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. Im working to discern Gods direction as it relates to timing of when to conclude. The Rev. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. 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. He shared a vision of revival. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . Their seminaries have hosted outstanding guest faculty and chapel speakers outside of their norm. Rev. Both Meeks and Dates also have a connection to the Moody Bible Institute. And Progressive only has one location. As CT reported in August, there werent signs of a trend of majority-black churches leaving in the most recent denomination report from 2018, though the rates of growth year-over-year had slowed after shooting up in the early 2000s. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. To invite Dr. Atlanta pastor John Onwuchekwa left the SBC over the summer due to concerns over its approach to racial issues. I want to say it is an honor to even be considered, let alone asked, to succeed the Reverend James T. Meeks. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. 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. 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. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. Its been anchored in the community. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Galatians 5: 13-14 | Pastor David Swanson, Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read. Wests The Church Without Walls (originally Brookhollow Baptist Church) has ranked among the 100 biggest in the country and averages 9,000 people in weekly attendance, according to its site. That is a concerning statement. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. 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. 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. Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? Since then, conservative groups have been more vocal about what they see as an embrace of critical race theory and secular thinking by seminaries and denominational leaders, with the newly formed Conservative Baptist Network being among the most vocal opponents. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Marin Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. And Im not sure how bringing up holy men of other faiths comes into it I was at a Christian event seeking Biblically-rooted ministry, and thats what Pastor Dates and his wife provided. Again, amen to that. How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. 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. I dont need to be Einstein to understand that with all these jobs he is not truly doing any of them full time. As for me, I will always be grateful. 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. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. Thats the good ol boys club. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. . 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.. 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. I dont know anything about Pastor Dates using a slur I havent heard anything about it, nor do I know anything about the context, response, or outcomes. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. 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.
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