Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. 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. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. 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. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. 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.. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. That history is enormous. I think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. Their seminaries have hosted outstanding guest faculty and chapel speakers outside of their norm. Galatians 5: 13-14 | Pastor David Swanson, Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago. Perspective by Charlie Dates. Conservatism is, and has always been, the god of the SBC. 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. But Pastor Dates said, I know you probably dont like me right now, I can tell from how youre reacting to what Im saying; but Im not here to get you to like me. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. 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. 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. 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 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. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Learn more. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? I am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. Come stop by the north lobby to have your picture and/or video taken on March 19th and the 26th directly following service, As our church family continues to grow, we want to welcome our new members home. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. If we in the SBC had shown as much sorrow for the painful legacy that sin has left as we show passion to decry CRT, we probably wouldnt be in this mess., Critical race theory isnt clearly defined, but generally refers to an approach to racism as systemic and embedded in society. 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. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. And I think we can develop a platform, a pipeline to invite those who feel that burden of call to grow them and to release them to do that," he added. With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? Shes ready to work. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. 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. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. 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. That Salem is a loving church ready to work. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. . Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. Sign up for our newsletter: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. That would just be weird. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. 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. 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. Theres something about the formation of my mind and my theological heart that is directly shaped by and impacted by watching all of that, and working in all of that, as I came of age, he said. Rev. Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? The mega church concept is already troublesome. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. Services Progressive Baptist Church SUNDAYS AT PROGRESSIVE We'd love for you to join us at our Sunday Services! Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. Sad, but not at all surprising. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. 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. I like my pastor; I dont love him. You know, at one point, Progressive had the strongest and largest Christian discipleship ministry in the city. Hmm. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. The recent departures caught the attention of Southern Baptist leaders who were disappointed to see them go, particularly fellow African Americans. 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. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. Not able to make? Chuck Smith himself, who started out as every kind of salt and light, found himself tempted by the limelight as he got bigger and bigger, and we saw more and more of his flaws as time went on. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. But you seem determined to dismiss or belittle it in some sort of attempt to insult the Dates and me. . 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. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". I had to tell my church I was wrong. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? My approach at Salem will be similar once I have learned again the way of the land. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. How has he influenced you? The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. I cant speak for them. 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. 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. This workshop will cover everything from home buying basics to the most important step, funding and loan process. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. 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.