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. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Gleannings aggregates what others are reporting. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. Pastoral leadership is a storied pillar in both of these churches. Now we have 2 churches thinking only one particular man can lead them. The mega church concept is already troublesome. I dont idolize Pastor Dates, nor is he my everything. Not because of a sermon I heard from a distance or book that I read.. It's time for us to bring in new families. Progressive was once, decades ago, the kind of leading force of churches on the South Side. Sad, but not at all surprising. Meeks has led the African American congregation, now at nearly 10,000 members, since its founding in 1985. Charlie Dates and Ralph D. West spoke out in response to a controversial statement released by seminary presidents. Dateswho spoke at several national SBC events before and after deciding to affiliate with the denominationwrote that the statement was a final straw.. That is a concerning statement. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Charlie Dates has been working as a Youngest Senior Pastor at Progressive Baptist Church for 12 years. Are there things at Progressive you will have to step away from? Nationally known pastor Rev. From 2016 to 2019, too, I preached on the campuses of four of the SBC seminaries and had been invited to another. I had the privilege of not only hearing him preach as a guest speaker at my church, but also meeting him after a singles event hosted by Progressive. I am on assignment to lead the church forward in Chicago. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Its the same approach that created President Donald Trump, that makes sure that no Republican leader will challenge him publicly. Dates added that the transition will start in January 2023. He was elected in March by an overwhelming majority, the largest vote received by any pastor in Progressive's rich history. 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. 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. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart.". Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. I do know it is a debate in the Black community about using certain colorist or racially-charged terms against each other. If you have legal questions, attorneys will be available to help you at the legal clinic. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. 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. I want to be clear though, Im not saying Im the only Timothy he has, in the same way that Paul had others. 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 . Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. At the emergence of the pandemic, the SBC donated to our emergency effort to provide online food delivery services for Chicagoans with SNAP benefits. 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. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. Its time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicagos largest churches. Progressive Baptist Church, a century-old historically Black congregation, was briefly part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). . 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. If that is YOUR definition of ministering to someone (because that is the language I used, and you jumped to that conclusion), YOU need to revisit it. Progressive got insulated at one point. 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. 3658 SOUTH WENTWORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL, 60609, 773-268-6048 | INFO@PROGRESSIVECHICAGO.ORG. Its a sensitive time for both congregations, and I want to convey as they read this my love for both of them. Perspective by Charlie Dates. But the church left in 2020 after SBC leaders rejected critical race theory en masse. Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. He announced Sunday he'll preach his last sermon to the 10,000-member church on January 8, 2023. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. But we can actually press into the current culture and lead our young people and train them to lead a revolution for the kingdom and the glory of God. For the second time in two days, a prominent Black pastor has publicly quit the Southern Baptist Convention over its seminary presidents' campaign against Critical Race Theory. 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. The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. 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Dubois, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Mcloud - Bethune, Dr. Charlies orientation and early formation were significantly bent toward the theological reflection of Black people. If Charlie Dates indeed used a racial slur (just last year), that does call into fitness his ability to do any of the above. Could you describe your relationship with Meeks? Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. September 3, 2021 at 1:54 p.m. EDT. The resistance, especially from some of our elderly membership, was swift and sincere. What other things do you want to highlight to your current and future congregations and the readers of CT? The theory came up in a controversial resolution that passed at the SBCs 2019 annual meeting, when Greear was elected. Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way. Logos of the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. Salem Baptist is one of several megachurches whose pastors are passing the baton. Progressive Baptist Church. 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. I would caution ANYONE who makes ANYONE their everytying including a spouse or child. 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. 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? If we in the SBC had shown as much sorrow for the painful legacy that sin has left as we show passion to decry CRT, we probably wouldnt be in this mess., Critical race theory isnt clearly defined, but generally refers to an approach to racism as systemic and embedded in society. I just checked and you can still see the tweet for yourself, he refused to delete it. And Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren is retiring this September. Weve already started the conversation that, at some point, the goal is to raise up leaders to do more work. In addition, the 41-year-old also served under Meeks as primary preaching assistant, pastor of adult ministries, and director of church operations at Salem Baptist before becoming senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in 2011. 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. He told his trustees to uphold the slaveholder for whom his college is named. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Brian Legal Clinic The Social Justice Ministry is here to help through our Gospel Justice Center Legal Clinic. CT interviewed him about the history of the two congregations and his call to lead Salem Baptist. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. 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. 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. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. Im not sure I understand your point. Yesterday, Charlie Dates, the Senior Pastor at Chicago's Progressive Baptist Church, gave a powerful biblical message addressing the recent killings of Auhmad Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. There is no such thing as the Old Southern Baptists.. 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. From your posts (especially the prior one to this), it almost seems like your biggest qualification for a pastor is whether he or she makes you feel good; warm and fuzzy. 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. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. 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. Its one thing to adore someone you dont have any personal relationship with. 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. He teaches preaching at Wheaton College and serves as an Affiliate Professor of the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary and as Affiliate . 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. Preachers and teachers are there to instruct and shape us much like secular, academic teachers/professors. 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. Blessed to serve in the city in which he was born, Reverend Dr. Charlie E. Dates is Chicago through and through.
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