Charlie E. Dates was presented to the church in February 2011. Susan Robinson is a 100-year-old Black woman and lifelong member of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, where I am senior . Charlie Dates is the senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago and serves on the board of TCP. It just isnt where God has me in this season of my life (yet). 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. Its not making me feel good; warm and fuzzy. It took a while for it to reimagine and revitalize and become relevant again. Its important to highlight that this is not conventional. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Have you ever dreamed of owning a home, but don't know where to begin? . 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. None of that is contingent upon Biblical Christianity (indeed, you say its not because of a sermon or book, meaning theology I assume). Both have spoken at Moodys annual Founders Week conferences. What I will say is that Progressive and Salem demonstrate the spectrum of Black churches in Chicago. Charlie E. Dates is the senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church and Progressive Baptist Church, two of the oldest and largest historically Black churches in Chicago, Illinois. The two pastors brought up recognizing the reality of systemic racism alongside the truth and authority of Scripture. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B. 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. You talked a bit about both churches significance to Chicago. Both of them have produced some stalwart Christian leaders and teachers. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates. I just hate to see us automatically dismiss a pastor, church or ministry due to size. Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed Christ into his life early. We meet every second Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. It does not store any personal data. Ive seen healthy and unhealthy churches of all sizes. I need to say that this is not an ambition of mine. Religion News Service reported that Fred Luter, the only black SBC president, signed on in agreement. Welcome to the weekly podcast of Progressive Baptist Church with Pastor and Author, Dr. Charlie Dates. While I do not know much about Charlie Dates, it has becoming increasingly true that the higher you rise the harder you fall. Progressive got insulated at one point. Photo courtesy of Progressive Baptist Church. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. "Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. I just only pray he does not become spread too thin by leading two large churches. What other things do you want to highlight to your current and future congregations and the readers of CT? 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. Meeks, who plans to stay involved with Hope of House, Salems philanthropic organization, is one of the latest longtime U.S. church leaders to step down. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Dates graduated from Salem Baptists Christian school, which has since closed. None of our denominations, Black or white, are as relevant and biblically prophetic as our present age requires. 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. While West says he cannot offer a full affirmation of the theory, he does not see it as incompatible with the gospel. To invite Dr. They are to us what the Electoral College is to the United States: a body that no longer produces what it originally promised. Facebook/Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, Pastor Charlie Dates (R) and Rev. 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. No. Its time for Salem to have younger leadership . Charlie Dates Current Workplace. But it would be foolish to assume its humanly possible to do this in and of myself. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the citys far South Side. Mohler, to take one example, endorsed a philandering, racist president, thereby betraying his Black and brown Christian family. I respect the importance of Christian denominations, the accountability and resources they provide for the larger body. We need a new vision. 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. Pretty sure there were no consequences whatsoever for him over it. (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. 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. Progressives buildings were built without a dime of debt at a time where Black people could not get a loan from a bank. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred. As I prayed through it, Reverend Meeks and I wrestled with it, and he graciously affirmed my sense of discernment. 53 min; FEB 8, 2023 "Can't Turn . Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT: Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, Everything Everywhere All at Once and the Beautiful Mystery of Gods Silence. Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Charlie E. Dates, is a. 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. 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He also teaches at Wheaton College and has delivered chapel sermons at various institutions, including The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. With teary eyes, I just told them I hope that they accept my recommendation when that time comes. Rev. They are ready to see their young adopt the very vestiges of hate that enslaved us in the name of Gods authoritative word. Book your appointment here. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When did those who have yet to hire multiple Black or brown faculty at their seminaries assume ethical authority on the subject of systemic injustice? Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. Charlie Dates preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. What specifically attracted you about this role at Salem Baptist? 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. "And God has blessed us with our own son who has agreed starting January 15th, 2023, to be the next pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.".