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Were living in a time where so many young people are walking away from the church and where church attendance numbers are in the dumps. The leaders of two majority-black megachurches in major cities announced this week that they will no longer affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. Im not sure I understand your point. As a highly sought-after speaker, he is widely invited to preach at churches and speak at retreats, conferences, and universities throughout the United States and abroad. I completely understand your concern, Tricia. 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. We want to walk with you and your family in every step of the way. Sad, but not at all surprising. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. You know, at one point, Progressive had the strongest and largest Christian discipleship ministry in the city. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. My response to the above is that that kind of filling of your personal needs, i.e. Children are a gift from God. (Perhaps due to my rarely being on social media for my own sanity). While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. My relationship with him is dynamic. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. And if you think it feels good, warm and fuzzy to be confronted about your sin when youre in the middle of grief, you are VERY mistaken. Wests The Church Without Walls (originally Brookhollow Baptist Church) has ranked among the 100 biggest in the country and averages 9,000 people in weekly attendance, according to its site. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. 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. 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. Atlanta pastor John Onwuchekwa left the SBC over the summer due to concerns over its approach to racial issues. Some Black Southern Baptists feel shut out by white leaders Its humorous, its rewarding, and its worth more than the price of gold or platinum. His decision came two days after West made a similar argument in a Baptist Standard op-ed. Chicago has rich Black churches throughout the South and West sides, in particular. . In 2006, he began serving as the primary . 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. and pro football. . I recognize this moment is big, and its watershed, but it is not about me. Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church - Chicago . I do pray Pastor Dates is not spread too thin and that he has the support needed to lead such a large flock effectively. He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicagos 2011 mayoral race. Rev. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. They are selectively conservative. 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?" Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. 'More Than Just Talk:' Black Southern Baptist Pastors Urge Racial Unity Thats their choice. The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. We are hosting our New Member Orientation known as 'Connection Institute.' 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 what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? Dates holds a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication & Rhetoric from the University of Illinois - Champaign, Urbana, where he met his wife, Kirstie, who not only changed his life, but also elevated his approach to living. Weve got to be able to have our 12 stones from our Chicago Jordan River, with a keen eye on the hills and mountains of Jericho and the other cities in Canaan. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. 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. Sign up for our newsletter: 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 . 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. Comment below and let us know where you're watching fr. 1 is my itinerant ministry will take a reduction, and I will be present locally a lot more, which Im looking forward to. We want to see our church grow. He hijacked the affirmation meeting of the Baptist Faith & Message, turning it into a conservative resurgence revival. 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. Just, wow. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. He graduated with a PhD in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I see the Pauline example in the Gospel of teachers/leaders being figures that we seek and respect for guidance and direction and boundaries, and not necessarily the same functions that friends and family (in or outside of the church) perform. My acknowledgement of this is not a statement of submission, but an act of defiance. They are good men who are sending a big message to the SBC, said Marshal Ausberry. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. Before his call to Progressive, he served as an apprentice pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois, and as a pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Chicago. 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. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. @progressivechicago | @charliedates |. Pastor Charlie Dates speaks at Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago. 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. 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.. 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. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. Progressive Service Time 9:30am 3658 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago Coming Up. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. 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. Progressive Baptist Church Chicago - YouTube 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. "It's time for Salem to move forward. 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. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants hes retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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? You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . 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. Charlie Dates is set to succeed Rev. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. 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. And Im not sure how bringing up holy men of other faiths comes into it I was at a Christian event seeking Biblically-rooted ministry, and thats what Pastor Dates and his wife provided. That is a concerning statement. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. Charlie Dates is pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago. 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. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. But there are others who sit close to power within the SBC and who are silent against the racism that plagues their own congregations. Charlie Dates Returns to the Chicago Church that Shaped Him "It's Alright to Cry"| Pastor Charlie Dates | Progressive Chicago by Pastor Charlie Dates. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. I have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! 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. I understand both sides, but havent thought about it enough to have a strong opinion, probably because I dont use those terms. Our Team THE CHICAGO PARTNERSHIP 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. No matter what age, PBC Kids offers fun, age-appropriate programming that help your children connect with God. The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. If I idolized him, dont you think Id have followed him to his church YEARS ago when I first me him? I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. Progressive Baptist Church Podcast: Great Expectations | Joshua 14:6 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall.. Dates explained he saw rejecting CRT as part of a continuing heritage of dangerous conservatism.. Some worry that a systemic view of racism, where a person is considered privileged or disadvantaged in society because of their race, conflicts with Christian beliefs about forgiveness or people holding equal value before God. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children. We need new opportunities. 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.. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Vance Pitman resigned in December from Hope Church in Las Vegas to lead the SBCs national church-planting organization. Ive learned there is an unwritten rule in the SBC: Dont criticize an entity head. I dont come out of thin air to either church; you can trace my lineage. Brian They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". Theres just no way you can pastor a church that big being involved in all of the details, right? Meeks' retirement comes at a time when many longtime church leaders have been transitioning out of leadership as they contend with dwindling attendance and other ministry upheavals laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not able to make? Dates, 41, graduated from Salems now-shuttered Christian Academy. I believe now that the time has come for me to yield to a younger person.. 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. To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . He opposed the legalization of gay marriage,called for a boycott over funding disparities at Chicago Public Schools, and once served as spiritual adviser to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. How has he influenced you? Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. "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." Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor.". Rev. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. And, yes, nothing good ever comes out of megachurches and rock-star pastors. The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. 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. And the same for Salem, which might still have it. Progressive Baptist Church is part of the Organizations industry, and located in Illinois, United States. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. From 2016 to 2019, too, I preached on the campuses of four of the SBC seminaries and had been invited to another. Before his call to Progressive, he served as an apprentice pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois, and as a pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Chicago. And while Progressive is a large congregation (around 1000 members), it doesnt come close to Salem (which has about 10,000). Its no longer that waywe are very much in the community nowbut thats the way it was. It's time for us to bring in new families. But the bones are good. Rev. And Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren is retiring this September. Image courtesy of Baptist Press. Hmm. After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. 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. Progressive Baptist Church Chicago - YouTube No One Knows. Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. Charlie Dates - Youngest.. - Progressive Baptist Church | ZoomInfo He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. With no repentance of any kind and such bald-faced pride in his sin, it bears questioning whether Dates ever had a regenerative, salvific transformation in his heart to begin with. 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. Meeks called Dates the greatest preacher in our nation. I also understand how a personal relationship strengthens that love; that is the importance of us having relationships in the body of Christ. Shouldnt a competent, strong, wise pastor stir and challenge his flock, make their complacency seem uncomfortable?