Blessed to serve in the city in which he was born, Reverend Dr. Charlie E. Dates is Chicago
through and through. Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed
Christ into his life early. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B.
Dubois, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Mcloud - Bethune, Dr.
Charlie’s orientation and early formation were significantly bent toward the theological reflection
of Black people.
This shaped his approach to preaching and his thoughts about the
transformative role the Black church plays in bringing about the flourishing of a people.
Dr. 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. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity
and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
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. 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. 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. 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.
In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of
Chicago. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward
Dates II & Claire Dates.
through and through. Raised on the southside of Chicago, he came of age having welcomed
Christ into his life early. Heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, W.E.B.
Dubois, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Mcloud - Bethune, Dr.
Charlie’s orientation and early formation were significantly bent toward the theological reflection
of Black people.
This shaped his approach to preaching and his thoughts about the
transformative role the Black church plays in bringing about the flourishing of a people.
Dr. 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. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity
and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
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. 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. 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. 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.
In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of
Chicago. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward
Dates II & Claire Dates.