They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. I will admit to knowing very little about Charlie Dates, but what Gus Chiggins posted is extremely concerning. Dates preaches at the 2019 African American Preaching Conference. Sign up for our newsletter: Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. Perhaps you are taking on a worldly definition of love? His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. Logos of the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. Its time for a young generation to come forward with new challenges facing us.. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? . It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). Neither am I saying that hes the only significant influence in my life. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? Wow, I never knew this, did TRR ever do an expose of this incident? I cant speak for them. Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Its fair to say that I understand the dynamics of congregational leadership and development in both churches. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. His wife Kirstie also followed up to pray with me and further encourage me. Dr. Charlie Dates will take his place. Join us before worship service on Sunday, March 19th directly following service. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. 99% of these megachurch icons and celebrities were nowhere near as righteous as Smith to start with, and only continue to deteriorate from that starting point, with time and fame. They would not. I had to fight all of my flesh not to just walk away. 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. 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 . Chicago needs the Black church to be her best and brightest self. Pastor Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago lamented, "This is a very tiring conversation, not simply because of the events of recent weeks, but because this has been a 401-year . Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. and pro football. 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)? Thanks for the extra info here. 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. 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. COMMENTARY: Six white men shouldnt decide Southern Baptist position on race. 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. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. We need a new vision. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. The mega church concept is already troublesome. 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. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. The Rev. . Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? Cancel culture is wrong but shouldnt we have heard something about it at least? "We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. On March 27-28, Dates will give a sermon and lecture at Samford University for the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies annual Dotson M. Nelson Lecture. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. If, however, I fail to get the churches to see that our history serves our present and inspires our future, then Im in trouble. What kind of repentance did he show and how has he made amends? Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. 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. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? I think part of this is connected to what attracted me to Salem Baptist. What lessons or advice has he already passed along about leading Salem Baptist? Charlie Edward Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor in Progressive's rich 95-year history. Their stand against racism rings hollow when in their next breath they reject theories that have been helpful in framing the problem of racism, he wrote, disappointed that the presidents would come together to speak out against it rather than turning their criticism toward other ills such a racism itself. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. 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. Nationally known pastor Rev. Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. I was shocked, but not surprised, when Mohler endorsed President Trump and watched the two men on Reformation Day celebrate each other on Twitter. It is good that you were ministered to personally by your pastor. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. When we make one man or woman our everything, bad things are bound to happen. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Some in our ranks inappropriately use the label of CRT! to avoid legitimate questions or as a cudgel to dismiss any discussion of discrimination. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. "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.". Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. 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.. 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. I didnt say Pastor Dates was the ONLY person who could minister to me; I dont have anyone in my life like htat. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. 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. 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. Charlie Dates Returns to the Chicago Church that Shaped Him While continuing to lead Progressive Baptist, the 41-year-old pastor was named the successor to James Meeks at Salem Baptist. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. Here it was, I thought, further proof that the old SBC was fading. Charlie earned an M.Div. Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. When I came back home to Southwestern, I even encouraged other ministers to do the same. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. And I dont even go to Progressive, which is less than 15 minutes from my home (closer than my current church home). It took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. Thats the old SBC. 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. 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.. 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. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. I left that conference feeling hopeful. The mega church concept is already troublesome. Dr. Charlie Dates became the youngest senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago in 2011 at age 30 and in January 2023, he became the senior pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. We need new opportunities. He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicagos 2011 mayoral race. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Marin As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. Do you know what I mean by ministering to me? Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". In just our brief 15 minute interaction, he really ministered to me as he correctly sensed I was going through a season of loss that was challenging my faith. Meeks, a former state senator, founded Salem Baptist 38 years ago. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Would a right-wing famous pastor like Voddie Baucham or Rob Jeffress be able to get away with using racial slurs??? Perhaps I need to know whats defined as a megachurch? He also told him hes still willfully acting like hes a slave because he rejects CRT. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. 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. What is liberalism to the conservative Southern Baptists? It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. Sign up now ! If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. 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. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. Meeks has been activeand sometimes controversialin the community. 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. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. But as 2020 went on, I grew increasingly uneasy. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. But some have grown frustrated with their position in a denomination that remains largely white (African Americans make up just 6 percent of Southern Baptists, according to Pew Research Center). Blessed to serve in the city in which he was born, Reverend Dr. Charlie E. Dates is Chicago through and through. I dont know anything about Pastor Dates using a slur I havent heard anything about it, nor do I know anything about the context, response, or outcomes. In a video message to Progressive, Dates said the two churches will stay distinct, though hell pastor them both. The young pastor said he had to convince his members that joining the denomination for the sake of mission partnerships would be a good move. I had to tell my church I was wrong. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. 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. 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. (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. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Im not in the weeds at Progressive. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. But the bones are good. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org .
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