That Salem is a loving church ready to work. I think thats a blessing, especially when I see a lot of superficial relationships between pastors and their flock. On one hand, the legacy has to continue. Great! Book your appointment here. I cant speak for them. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . 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. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. Thats the good ol boys club. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. I plan to lead through leaders. It does not store any personal data. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. 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. 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. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. Its more than just Progressive and Salem. I left that conference feeling hopeful. Around the country, people run into me and tell me, Oh I got baptized at that church, or Oh, I remember Sunday school at that church. Its legend and its lore is huge. 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. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. 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.. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago by Pastor Charlie Dates. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. We need a new vision. When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. 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As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long, he says. Neither am I saying that hes the only significant influence in my life. 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. Nationally known pastor Rev. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. So it is Biblical for a leader to have a large flock. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And how have you begun planning to deal with those challenges? (Dr. Charlie Edward Dates is the senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Charlie Dates Current Workplace. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. Dr. Charlie Dates . These churches are a gift. Yeah thats in bad form. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. I dont come out of thin air to either church; you can trace my lineage. 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. To donate, becoming Progressives youngest-ever senior pastor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago Unity Service Brings Together Christians Across Ethnic Lines, Chicago Pastor James Meeks Bids Tearful Farewell After 38 Years at Salem Baptist, Tennessee Charity Walk to Fund Needed Wells Persists Despite Rainy Conditions, Eden Village Ministry Aims to End Homelessness Through Tiny Home Communities, Gateway Seminary to Fund Short-Term Mission Trips for All Students, Vineyard Pastor Resigns, Wont Cooperate With Probe Into Sons Alleged Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. Dates new role will mean others will take on some of what Dates does now at Progressive, he said. While continuing to lead Progressive Baptist, the 41-year-old pastor was named the successor to James Meeks at Salem Baptist Church, one of the citys biggest congregations. . 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. Butand this is no secretfor years it stayed in the vein of its history. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. There is a HUGE problem with adoring a pastorany pastor, even a truly great one. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. "The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. Charlie Dates is pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago. Ill be here every Sunday and through the week as I normally am, Dates said. Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. 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. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. Charlie has 1 job listed on their profile. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. The young people I met that week shocked me with the warmth and enthusiasm with which they embraced the subject matter. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". 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 took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. Hmm. Nationally known pastor Rev. 11,909 were here. The backstage conversations at these gatherings promised a new era of advancement on race and theology. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. 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. Perhaps you are taking on a worldly definition of love? It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Two things. No one knows. 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. 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. That philosophy has weakened whatever prophetic potential the SBC has. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? He announced Sunday hell preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. 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. Just, wow. Sign up for our newsletter: ), Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. Dates's 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. Charlie has also led Progressive in being a very put faith into action church here in the Chicago Black community. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. We need new opportunities. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling. 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. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. Dates called him an Uncle Ruckus on twitter, which is a derogatory slur used to describe a black man that embraces the whiteness of society instead of resisting it. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. So Im not in a position to speak on that. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. And I recognize that. Rev. He was elected in March by an overwhelming majority, the largest vote received by any pastor in Progressive's rich history. 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. 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)? 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. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the. 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? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Photo courtesy of Charlie Dates. We haveI thinka very Paul and Timothy kind of relationship. Thats their choice. Rev. "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." They both, in that regard, have a history of absolutely incredible pastors. But what a blessing to the members of both congregations. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. The specter of racial animus and theological arrogance was giving way to a new era of Christian leadership, I suggested. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance.