Both Meeks and Dates also have a connection to the Moody Bible Institute. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? 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. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Its important to highlight that this is not conventional. 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. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. From 2016 to 2019, too, I preached on the campuses of four of the SBC seminaries and had been invited to another. Rev. Respect and admire if they are capable, yes. I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. They are selectively conservative. 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. So he is going to pastor two large churches in addition to teaching at several colleges. Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. The 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. Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates will take his place. 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. That is a concerning statement. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? Ill be here every Sunday and through the week as I normally am, Dates said. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. I dont even know what sort of issue Dates had with whoever (again, Im rarely on social media), but even I can spot your bias here. 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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. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. Welcome to the weekly podcast of Progressive Baptist Church with Pastor and Author, Dr. Charlie Dates. View Charlie Dates' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. SBC events and church planting have grown more diverse over the past decade as leaders made a concerted effort to feature and invest in non-Anglo pastors. I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. And Progressive only has one location. We want to celebrate YOU. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. 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 . 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.. They would not. Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. . Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. . Image courtesy of Baptist Press. To donate, click here. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. 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And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. Every church that lives in the past is already anchoring itself in the graveyard of history. How has he influenced you? I plan to lead through leaders. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. We need a new vision. 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.. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. 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. Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL 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. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. I took President Adam Greenways invitation to return as a statement of good faith, that the seminary wanted to welcome me and many other Black ministers to contribute to its legacy, he wrote. Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. 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. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. As for me, I will always be grateful. Just, wow. Photo courtesy of Charlie Dates. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. 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. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". 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. Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately?. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. 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. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. 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? He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. As I prayed about it, I got no inkling that it was time, just yet, to walk away from Progressive. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. These have been disciple-making churches with an emphasis on Christian education. Dr. In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . 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. 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. Atlanta pastor John Onwuchekwa left the SBC over the summer due to concerns over its approach to racial issues. I think the distinction is that I can serve Salem well by loving her through the preaching ministry and pastoral care, and she will follow. 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. Two things. This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. 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. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. That would just be weird. Wow, I never knew this, did TRR ever do an expose of this incident? 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.