As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". 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. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. They would not. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. I also understand how a personal relationship strengthens that love; that is the importance of us having relationships in the body of Christ. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL - Facebook Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. Butand this is no secretfor years it stayed in the vein of its history. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. Thanks for the extra info here. 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. 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. 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. We need a new vision. That Salem is a loving church ready to work. PODCAST - I Can't Breathe | Charlie Dates - The Center for Pastor 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. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 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. I had to tell my church I was wrong. Yesterday, Charlie Dates, the Senior Pastor at Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church, gave a powerful biblical message addressing the recent killings of Auhmad Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. Rev. Charlie Dates: The Worst of Times Needs the Best of - ChurchLeaders 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. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. No. The SBCs power structure wants to maintain white dominance. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. Learn more. (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity). Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. 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. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. 11,909 were here. The recent departures caught the attention of Southern Baptist leaders who were disappointed to see them go, particularly fellow African Americans. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? My relationship with him is dynamic. The statement on critical race theory and intersectionality has soiled that good faith.. 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. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. Marin This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. "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.". 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. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. 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. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate Professor of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. And Progressive only has one location. Rev. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. 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. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. That would just be weird. The young pastor said he had to convince his members that joining the denomination for the sake of mission partnerships would be a good move. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? Two Prominent Pastors Break With SBC After Critical Race T | News 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. 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. Hmm. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. The church actually changed the face of that community, he says. Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. But the bones are good. What other things do you want to highlight to your current and future congregations and the readers of CT? fellowship and personal friendship, could have been met by a holy man of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other world religionor by a secular counselor or self-help advocate. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. 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. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. Again, amen to that. 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.. And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. Biblical and Religious Studies Host Chicago Pastor for 2023 Dotson M He shared a vision of revival. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. I plan to lead through leaders. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). I Can't Breathe: A Sermon by Charlie Dates - The Gospel Coalition All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. 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. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. They are selectively conservative. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. 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. And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). On Dec. 1, all six of the SBC seminary presidents without one Black president or counter opinion among them told the world that a high view of Scripture necessarily required a corresponding and total rejection of critical race theory and intersectionality. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. The head of the SBCs National African American Fellowship, which had raised concerns about the critical race theory statement a week ago, said he was saddened by the announcements. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. Charlie Dates - Youngest.. - Progressive Baptist Church | ZoomInfo Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). Rev. Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. 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? Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. 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. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? 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. 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. 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. Charlie Dates - The Presbyterian Outlook Brian But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. "It's time for Salem to move forward. 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. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I also want to suggest that Chicago, and America, needs churches that are developing and reproducing young pastors, that we become more intentional about it. Thats the good ol boys club. Its been anchored in the community. Event Calendar Progressive Baptist Church