I also understand how a personal relationship strengthens that love; that is the importance of us having relationships in the body of Christ. Earlier this month, Saddleback Church co-founders Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, named Andy Wood of Echo.Church in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Stacie, as their successors, starting in September. 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 . "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.". By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. Dates also is an affiliate professor at Baylor Universitys George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Texas and at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, according to his bio. So for me, what attracted me was God. 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 wonder how many of them provide full time paychecks. The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. 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. Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. Rev. That would just be weird. But he added God is extending our platform and our reach to the point where Ill be able to provide pastoral leadership for both churches. He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. Charlie is the senior pastor a Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church. They would not. Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. We need new opportunities. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. 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. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. Nationally known pastor Rev. 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. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. 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. Again, amen to that. Datess 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 denomination. 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 cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. Who thinks a half a pastor can shepherd a full church adequately? While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. That was the last straw for Dates, he wrote in a column for Religion News Service. I like my pastor; I dont love him. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! It seems to me that God has been up to this, directing this well before I could tell. SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon Its more than just Progressive and Salem. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. and pro football. 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. I had to tell my church I was wrong. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. "It's time for Salem to move forward. 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. Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. And while Progressive is a large congregation (around 1000 members), it doesnt come close to Salem (which has about 10,000). Rev. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. This isnt something that I read or something that I watched; this is a ministry that I participated in and had a front row seat to as a kid, said Dates, who grew up at Salem and attended its former school, Salem Christian Academy. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. 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. 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.". That is a concerning statement. But what a blessing to the members of both congregations. I dont know if Id recommend this to anybody. Dr. Charlie Dates is widely invited to preach at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! "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.". Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. 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. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. It is the work of that church, but its also Reverend Meeks, the pastor of that church. 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 think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. I completely understand your concern, Tricia. This was why I felt it safe to forge an alliance. My relationship with him is dynamic. I go where God leads me not Charlie Dates. 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. 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. But there are others who sit close to power within the SBC and who are silent against the racism that plagues their own congregations. Image courtesy of Baptist Press. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. 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. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. 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. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. View Charlie Dates' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. 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. To donate, click here. 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. (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. 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. I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. . 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. You sure seem ready to defend Trump and do the we dont know whats in his heart, only God knows if hes saved song and dance when it comes to explaining away Trumps lack of repentance or remorse for such language. 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Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. 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. The statement on critical race theory and intersectionality has soiled that good faith.. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. 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. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. 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?" 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. These have been disciple-making churches with an emphasis on Christian education. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Dr. Charlie Dates . No one knows. Show Progressive Baptist Church Podcast, Ep Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6-15 | Pastor Bryan Carter - Jul 26, 2022 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. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. So Im not in a position to speak on that. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. 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. How has he influenced you? 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. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Churchone of Chicagos biggest megachurches. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. But you seem determined to dismiss or belittle it in some sort of attempt to insult the Dates and me. 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. The statementposted on the anniversary of the 13th amendment abolishing slaverycalled for collective repentance and criticized those who would downplay SBCs racial history or label others as critical race theorists for acknowledging systemic injustices. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. No One Knows. I plan to lead through leaders. We need new ideas. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. If thats idolatry to youwe can disagree. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city. 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. The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. 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These churches are a gift. "We want to see our church be vibrant. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. Preachers and teachers are there to instruct and shape us much like secular, academic teachers/professors. 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. 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. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. 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. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. 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. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! ), Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said.