Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? But the bones are good. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. 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. And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . 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. I had to tell my church I was wrong. . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I dont need to be Einstein to understand that with all these jobs he is not truly doing any of them full time. 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. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". 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 Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Perspective by Charlie Dates. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. It's time for us to bring in new families. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. We are partnering with The Chicago Partnership to present this opportunity to the South Side! Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. "It's time for Salem to move forward. Progressive is a church of five generations. Return to homepage. In 1998, Meeks led a push to close 26 liquor stores in a 19-block radius near Salem. 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)? 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. 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. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. 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. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. 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. Dr. Charlie Dates will take his place. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. They are to us what the Electoral College is to the United States: a body that no longer produces what it originally promised. After the retirement of its founder James Meeks, fellow South Side pastor Charlie Dates will become senior pastor of one of Chicagos biggest megachurches, Salem Baptist Church, returning to the ministry that shaped him as a kid and succeeding one of his greatest mentors in the faith. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. 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.". ), Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. "I sense God performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. 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. 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. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 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. Book your appointment here. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). They are selectively conservative. Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. Dr. 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. As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. Thats the good ol boys club. To invite Dr. Sign up now ! One of the benefits at Progressive is that the operations of the church and systems and structures of the church, the day-to-day operations, are free to move independent of me. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. 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Many cannot even define what CRT is, he tweeted. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. No One Knows. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. 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. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. 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. 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. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. We need new ideas. Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. And while we are kind of watching this great falling away, we dont have to merely watch it. 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. Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Again, amen to that. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. I ADORE Charlie Dates. He announced in June that he will give his last sermon on January 8, 2023. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? 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. Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. Their seminaries have hosted outstanding guest faculty and chapel speakers outside of their norm. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. The beauty of this narrative is that the Lord, in his kindness and his grace, has taken pastors and churches to develop me. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. As one Conservative Baptist Network member said, they must constantly repent but can never actually be forgiven., A group of Southern Baptist pastors released a statement Friday voicing their opposition to any movement in the SBC that seeks to distract from racial reconciliation through the gospel and that denies the reality of systemic injustices.. James Meeks next year as senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church one of Chicago's biggest megachurches. Both of them have produced some stalwart Christian leaders and teachers. 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. I cant speak for them. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. But what a blessing to the members of both congregations. I think history, much like the end of Romans, is meant to teach us what God can do. 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. The first challenge is getting the churches to sense that where God gives a vision, theres always provision. 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. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. 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. September 3, 2021 at 1:54 p.m. EDT. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. We want to celebrate YOU. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. "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." I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. SERVICE TIME 9:30 AM CST Watch Live "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago Watch on Latest Sermon 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Hi. I dont know why; perhaps thats an attitude YOU need to pray about. Rev. Marin How do you use that significance, and history of these two churches in the city, to drive the future? That is a concerning statement. But in this instance, youre actually bothered (I guess Uncle Ruckus is what crosses your line, but not sons of b*ches or a**holes) AND questioning Charlie Datess salvation? Ill become senior pastor of both the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and remain that at Progressive.. 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. He shared a vision of revival. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. 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. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. 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. Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago Pastor: Dr. Charlie E. Dates Website: www.progressivechicago.org Giving/Donations: https://progressivechicago.org/give IG: Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? 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. Im just saying that at the juncture were in and being a son of the soil of Chicago and a son of Salem, and now having pastored Progressive, I just think I have a unique understanding and relational dynamic with both churches. The mega church concept is already troublesome. . Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. Just, wow. Rev. . When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? To invite Dr. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. Sad, but not at all surprising. 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. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. 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 the 2014 book Letters To A Birmingham Jail, and the 2019 book, Say It: Celebrating Expository Preaching in The African American Tradition. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. But you seem determined to dismiss or belittle it in some sort of attempt to insult the Dates and me. My relationship with him is dynamic. 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. 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.. I have to lead through my leaders. 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. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. Pastor Dates challenged me in how I was handling my grief, noted my verbal and body language pointed to some unrighteous anger and unforgiveness that I needed to confront in order to move forward in a Godly manner, gave me scriptures to pray and meditate on, and concluded by praying with me and having his wife Kirstie follow up with me. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? In 2006, he began serving as the primary . (RNS) In 2018, something happened at the MLK50 Conference in Memphis, an event co-hosted by the Southern Baptist Conventions policy arm and The Gospel Coalition. 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. Its time for a young generation to come forward with new challenges facing us.. Rev. He holds a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. . The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. 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. 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. As for me, I will always be grateful. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. Neither is it a premeditated desire of mine. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. 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. They would not. 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. 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.
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