They do not understand themselves to be beneficiaries of a system that marginalizes people of color.". If tons and tons of people love them and how they make them feel thats pretty much a sign that they are doing the *opposite* of the Great Commission. 'We out': Charlie Dates on why his church is leaving the SBC over Thats not always the case when you assume a pastorate. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. But what is liberal in the history of American Christianity? To learn more about how you can begin or deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit us at ProgressiveChicago.org . PODCAST - I Can't Breathe | Charlie Dates - The Center for Pastor Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. James Meeks faltered for just a moment at the end. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. Chicago megachurch pastor to retire, names successor | Church 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. We haveI thinka very Paul and Timothy kind of relationship. How do Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist compare, and what makes you a fit for both congregations at this moment? Preachers and teachers are there to instruct and shape us much like secular, academic teachers/professors. 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. Our PBC Teens are highly engaged in biblical teaching and discussion on how to navigate a Christian life amongst their peers. All the old leaders stay in place and dont open up and make room for new leadership. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicagos Progressive Baptist Church. Im not saying that Im perfect, forever, for both churches. 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. Again, amen to that. 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. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. 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. You know, at one point, Progressive had the strongest and largest Christian discipleship ministry in the city. I adore Charlie Dates BECAUSE of how he and his wife PERSONALLY ministered to me when I needed it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. 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. Who will pay for the SBCs abuse reforms over the long term? That would just be weird. Learn more. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. 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. Our History Progressive Baptist Church Another thing is I dont think this dual assignment is in perpetuity. I plan to lead through leaders. Progressive has asked me, when the time comes, to help them to find their next pastor. . Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . After 11 years at Progressive and watching more than 1,000 people join that church in that time, its fair to say that I carry the DNA of both churches. If you sense the malaise around Christian denominations, then you already yearn for a new vision and a new standard. RELATED: Southern Baptist seminary presidents nix critical race theory. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. Biblical and Religious Studies Host Chicago Pastor for 2023 Dotson M 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. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. 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. Im not sure I understand your point. and Ph.D. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity . James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). Its time for Salem to move forward, he told his congregants. "We want to see our church be vibrant. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. Rev. 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 am more of a vision-casting, preaching, pastoral care pastor. Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. It seems to me that God has been up to this, directing this well before I could tell. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. My approach at Salem will be similar once I have learned again the way of the land. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. Theres a danger when the person idolized has a position of power and authority, particularly in a religious sense. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. The other thing is, in terms of preaching, I plan on preaching two services on Sunday morning: one at Progressive and one at Salem. Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times. Please click here to learn how. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Progressive was around WAY before Charlie Dates; it was not founded or based on his teachings alone. 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. 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. Dates, 41, is senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Churcha position hell keep, despite assuming the pastorate at Salem. Dates response to the controversy was that its not racist because its between black people. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month. I cant speak for them. In 2011, at age 30, Rev. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? Our seminaries, many of them are in decline. Charlie Dates Current Workplace. To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. The head of the SBCs National African American Fellowship, which had raised concerns about the critical race theory statement a week ago, said he was saddened by the announcements. Shes ready to work. The statement on critical race theory and intersectionality has soiled that good faith.. True authentic faith is going to be limited to a tiny remnant in the last days; the separation of wheat and tares is being done as we speak. That somehow God grants the capacity and that God grants the resources and support. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. On Dec. 1, all six of the SBC seminary presidents without one Black president or counter opinion among them told the world that a high view of Scripture necessarily required a corresponding and total rejection of critical race theory and intersectionality. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. 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. The hard reality of the seminary presidents statement is that Black people will never gain full equality in the Southern Baptist Convention. No. 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. 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Charlie Dates serves as the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church and teaches at Moody Bible Institute as an adjunct professor. 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. How are you hoping to continue to cultivate that with both congregations? 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. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Respect and admire if they are capable, yes. That is a concerning statement. So Im not in a position to speak on that. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago | Chicago IL - Facebook 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. Dates to speak at your next event, please complete the Speaker Request form. And I have loved various pastors like family; some have ministered to my family for DECADES, and have baptized, married, counseled, and even eulogized GENERATIONS of my family. 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. 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. Ill be here every Sunday and through the week as I normally am, Dates said. Its evangelism, its benevolence, its disciple-making have all been very Christo-centric and rooted in the Scriptures. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. The only outcome can be from their life experience, which really ignores the broader family of Southern Baptists.. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. Earlier this month, Saddleback Church co-founders Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, named Andy Wood of Echo.Church in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Stacie, as their successors, starting in September. 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. When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? Sad, but not at all surprising. . Pastor Charlie Dates is the Senior Pastor of The Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. To a visitor entering the Northwest Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, on a recent Sunday, the assembly might have sounded like, The Rev. Perhaps you are taking on a worldly definition of love? 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'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. I cant speak much about Salem Baptist Church (other than its known in the Black community here in Chicago due to its sheer size), but I do know Progressive. The two churches will remain separate, and he plans on preaching two sermons each Sunday. For questions or to reach his office, please email booking@progressivechicago.org. 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 have, by the grace of God, the DNA of both churches.. It was the first time to my knowledge that white evangelicals had celebrated in concert the life, memory and work of the Rev. When Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Seminary, said the only politically moral option for Christians was the Republican Party, I asked other SBC leaders, good Christian men, to challenge him.
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