Thats the good ol boys club. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. 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. Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. Nationally known pastor Rev. . Meeks' retirement comes at a time when many longtime church leaders have been transitioning out of leadership as they contend with dwindling attendance and other ministry upheavals laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon 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 I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. and Ph.D. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity . 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. No. I returned to our Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago with a bit of sophomoric optimism. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. 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. 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. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. From 2016 to 2019, too, I preached on the campuses of four of the SBC seminaries and had been invited to another. . 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). Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? In addition, the 41-year-old also served under Meeks as primary preaching assistant, pastor of adult ministries, and director of church operations at Salem Baptist before becoming senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in 2011. Progressive got insulated at one point. 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 . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. And God has blessed us with our own son as the churchs next pastor. 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. I left that conference feeling hopeful. 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. As for me, I will always be grateful. "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." We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Charlie earned an M.Div. Dr. 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.. Its important to highlight that this is not conventional. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. 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. The SBC experienced a 43 percent jump in majority-black churches between 1998 and 2002, compared to 11 percent over the most recent four years. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. . I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Yeah thats in bad form. Hmm. 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. Thats their choice. With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? 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. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. We need new ideas. Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. 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? None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately? Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. I wonder how many of them provide full time paychecks. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. That would just be weird. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. 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. 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. I plan to lead through leaders. 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. Sad, but not at all surprising. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Learn more. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. I completely understand your concern, Tricia. It actually makes me think of Moses, who was advised on how to make leading the growing number of Israelites more manageable by placing them into groups and delegating. In 2011, Reverend Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor to serve the historic Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, which saw exponential growth under his leadership. 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. 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. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. That is absolutely a legitimate human need but I just dont see it as within the job description of a servant-leader of men in the Epistles. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. 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. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. If we could look at the current moment and seize the opportunity to develop young people that God has laid his hand upon, then I think the best days of the church, in this critical culture, are in front of us. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. Great! Please click here to learn how. Sign up for our newsletter: I am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. Two things. In all that, he can never be criticized within his ranks. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. Im here to speak the truth in love to you to keep you from going down a path that may seem comforting to you now, but it will ensnare you.. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. We want to see younger families come to our church and the last thing that we want is to stand in the way of that.". Charlie Dates of the Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, one of the pastors who have already severed ties, said the November statement was "the last straw." "When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism?" "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. 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. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. 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. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? We need new ideas. When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. 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. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. 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.. What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. 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. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. Rev. 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. 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. We haveI thinka very Paul and Timothy kind of relationship. Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. 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. The Rev. Rev. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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. 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. Brian What kind of repentance did he show and how has he made amends? 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. I dont know if Id recommend this to anybody. In op-eds announcing their decisions to leave, Charlie Dates of Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church and Ralph D. West of Houstons The Church Without Walls both criticized SBC seminary presidents declaration that critical race theory was incompatible with the denominations statement of faith. 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. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. 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. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. Nationally known pastor Rev. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? I have to lead through my leaders. 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. 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. 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? For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . 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. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. 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. 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. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. Rev. Shes ready to work. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock.