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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. . The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. 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. Brian Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. They are good men who are sending a big message to the SBC, said Marshal Ausberry. 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. 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. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . I want to say it is an honor to even be considered, let alone asked, to succeed the Reverend James T. Meeks. Wow, I never knew this, did TRR ever do an expose of this incident? 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. Marin Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? True authentic faith is going to be limited to a tiny remnant in the last days; the separation of wheat and tares is being done as we speak. Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. But the bones are good. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. "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.". I left that conference feeling hopeful. Thanks for the extra info here. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. 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. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? 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)? Woke Wars infiltrate Christian colleges, prof under fire for racial justice unit, Southern Baptists oust Rick Warrens Saddleback Church for naming a female pastor, Professor Joeckel on why his contract, teachings on racial justice are under review, Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. 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. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. I think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. 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. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. 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. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. 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. Something is lost when a pastor becomes distanced from 99% of his church. View Charlie Dates' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. 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. To a visitor entering the Northwest Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, on a recent Sunday, the assembly might have sounded like, The Rev. I would think its a good thing that I can speak from personal experience with the Dates, instead of some sort of I read his book fan club adoration. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Salem has not lost its relevance, Salem has not lost its edge, while maintaining a very high view of Scripture and its very Christo-centric approach to ministry. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). They would not. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. 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. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. I have to lead through my leaders. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. Rev. 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. 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. Progressive Baptist Church, a century-old historically Black congregation, was briefly part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. James Meeks announced Sunday that Pastor Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago will succeed him as leader of the 10,000-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago when he steps out of the role in January 2023. 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. Progressive Baptist Church. . 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I dont need to be Einstein to understand that with all these jobs he is not truly doing any of them full time. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. 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. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? 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. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. 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. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. We want to celebrate YOU. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. We need a new vision. 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. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Thats the good ol boys club. 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? 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 . SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon Hi. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. It does not store any personal data. I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. 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. 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. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. 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. Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. 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.". His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. But we can actually press into the current culture and lead our young people and train them to lead a revolution for the kingdom and the glory of God. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. 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 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? Dates wrote in an op-ed Friday for the Religion News Service. Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. And Progressive only has one location. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. And I recognize that. - Charlie Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, a church aligned with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, a mostly Black denomination, and also with the Illinois Baptist State Association, which is an SBC affiliate. 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. (I cant imagine having NEVER met your pastor one-on-one). 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. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Book your appointment here. And while Progressive is a large congregation (around 1000 members), it doesnt come close to Salem (which has about 10,000). 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. He opposed the legalization of gay marriage,called for a boycott over funding disparities at Chicago Public Schools, and once served as spiritual adviser to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. I imagine they provide cover for the SBC leadership to further alienate Black and brown Christians who do not ascribe to their heritage of dangerous conservatism. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. Its been anchored in the community. I ADORE Charlie Dates. But dozens of majority-black churches are joining the SBC each year, so the numbers are still growingjust not as fast as they once were. Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. So we decided to cooperate and join our church to the SBC in what is known as a dual affiliation. Galatians 5: 13-14 | Pastor David Swanson, Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago. Rev. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. 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.. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' Meeks serves on the Moody Bible Institute Trustee Board, and Dates has worked as an adjunct professor there. Butand this is no secretfor years it stayed in the vein of its history. 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. 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.. . Great! We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. The hard reality of the seminary presidents statement is that Black people will never gain full equality in the Southern Baptist Convention. My approach at Salem will be similar once I have learned again the way of the land. Nationally known pastor Rev. Im still surprised Charlie Dates wasnt forced to step down after he publicly used a racial slur against Virgil Walker on social media last year. 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 . 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. Ive learned there is an unwritten rule in the SBC: Dont criticize an entity head. 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. Dr. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. 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. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. 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. Its the same approach that created President Donald Trump, that makes sure that no Republican leader will challenge him publicly. Rev. As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. Thats the old SBC. I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. Chicago has rich Black churches throughout the South and West sides, in particular. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. 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. 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 . Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. Charlie Dates Current Workplace. "We can multiply that in evangelism, in discipleship, in educating our kids in reducing violence, shutting down liquor stores and opening up new opportunities to help rescue families and that's the church being the church.". Hmm. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. 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. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. 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. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. "We want to see our church be vibrant. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. 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. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. 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. Respect and admire if they are capable, yes. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Do you have a birthday or anniversary next month? Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. I wonder how many of them provide full time paychecks. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested.
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