Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. So, I propose to you that we need a new organism, not led in full by white men; a Christian collective that makes room for the essentials of the faith and the diversity of the Church; a robust engine that finances the impoverished sides of the Church, speaks justice courageously to the government and cares gently for the oppressed, marginalized and women. I plan to lead through leaders. That Salem is a loving church ready to work. These have been disciple-making churches with an emphasis on Christian education. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. 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. It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity). Rev. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. "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.". We are not merging the two churches and Salem is not absorbing Progressive, Dates said. Salem has its own kind of DNA, Progressive her own . I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. "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." I am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. We need a new vision. 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. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. 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. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Brian Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! They are good men who are sending a big message to the SBC, said Marshal Ausberry. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. 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. 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 . The average member was around before Charlie (hes been there ~10 years) and knows hes not the only one who can lead them. That would just be weird. Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 And while Progressive is a large congregation (around 1000 members), it doesnt come close to Salem (which has about 10,000). After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . Nationally known pastor Rev. 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. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. 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.. 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.. Rev. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? To correct us from repeating errors and to inspire and to encourage us to pursue Gods great promise. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? I had to tell my church I was wrong. 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 shared a vision of revival. To them, a belief in a high view of Scripture must mean an adaptation of Republican politics and, with it, the dismissal of critical race theory and intersectionality because of a fear of liberalism. That said, our church has just as high a view (if not higher) of Scripture as any SBC church, but theirs is an inconsistent epistemology. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. The Rev. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. Dr. The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. 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. 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. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. As for me and the Progressive Baptist Church, I keep hearing the words of Harriet Tubman: We out.. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? It's time for us to bring in young people. Charlie Dates Current Workplace. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . To start, Dates will keep his current post as senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church, a 15-minute drive from the House of Hope arena where Salem Baptist meets. 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. 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. Charlie Dates and Ralph D. West spoke out in response to a controversial statement released by seminary presidents. We want to see our church grow. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. All rights reserved. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? 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. Perspective by Charlie Dates. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. 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. So for me, what attracted me was God. Great! 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. Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. Thats the good ol boys club. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? 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. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Two things. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. The resolution clarified the theory could be employed, but only subordinate to Scripture.. I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. Marin But there are others who sit close to power within the SBC and who are silent against the racism that plagues their own congregations. 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. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. . 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. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. Are there things at Progressive you will have to step away from? Thanks for the extra info here. Hi. 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. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. So Im not in a position to speak on that. No one knows. It's time for us to bring in new families. Im not sure I understand your point. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. 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. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. 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.. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. As a highly sought-after speaker, he is widely invited to preach at churches and speak at retreats, conferences, and universities throughout the United States and abroad. And the same for Salem, which might still have it. It took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. 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. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. . 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 just only pray he does not become spread too thin by leading two large churches. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. . 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. How has he influenced you? Thats the old SBC. And I recognize that. 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. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. "It's time for Salem to move forward. Do you have a birthday or anniversary next month? He is a contributing author to Letters To A Birmingham Jail and Say It: Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition, and is currently working on his first single-authored book on Christianity and Social 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. 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. The mega church concept is already troublesome. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. 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). SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. Image courtesy of Baptist Press. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history.