PASTOR AND THEOLOGIAN REV. DR. CHARLIE E. DATES ISSUES NATIONAL CALL TO RECONNECT FAITH AND JUSTICE

Rev. Dr. Charlie E. Dates, senior pastor of two prominent Chicago churches, Salem Baptist and Progressive Baptist, challenges Christians nationwide to reconnect faith and justice in his new book, What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness?

In new book, prominent Chicago pastor challenges the Church to reclaim the historic connection between protest and prayer

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- At a time when questions about faith, justice and Christianity's role in American society generate national debate, Rev. Dr. Charlie E. Dates is challenging the Church to reconsider a relationship that helped shape the civil rights movement: the connection between personal faith and public responsibility.

Dates, a nationally sought-after speaker and senior pastor of two of Chicago's most prominent African American churches, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, explores these questions in his new book, What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness? Reclaiming the Intersection of Protest and Prayer, published in August by InterVarsity Press.

Drawing on the Black Church's central role in America's civil rights struggle, Dates examines how prayer, moral conviction and collective action have confronted injustice and advanced social change.

His message extends beyond the Black Church, challenging Christians across denominations to consider whether the Church has maintained the moral conviction and spiritual foundation necessary to address injustice while remaining faithful to its biblical mission.

“Justice is God's righteousness in action,” Dates writes, arguing that personal faith and public responsibility cannot be separated.

For generations, the Black Church has demonstrated this relationship. Before civil rights activists marched in the streets, many gathered in church sanctuaries and prayer meetings, drawing spiritual strength to confront discrimination and inequality.

“The Black Church has historically understood that the struggle for justice requires more than a moment of protest,” Dates said. “It requires moral conviction, spiritual strength and a commitment to the dignity of every human being.”

Dates argues that the relationship between protest and prayer remains essential as Christians confront contemporary challenges. His book examines divisions within American Christianity that have separated personal morality from social responsibility and explores how political divisions and nationalism can overshadow the Church's spiritual mission.

In a conversation with theologian and author Russell Moore, Dates warned of the danger of American Christianity becoming “more American than Christian,” raising questions about nationalism's influence on Christian identity.

The relevance of his message is evident in younger generations' civic engagement. Recently, students from North Carolina A&T State University, UNC Greensboro and Bennett College marched to an off-campus early-voting location after election officials declined to restore campus voting sites available during the 2024 election.

“The students in North Carolina remind us that a new generation understands the importance of standing up for justice,” Dates said. “But are we maintaining the connection between protest and prayer that helped sustain the civil rights movement? Prayer exalts God over our debilitating circumstances and produces the equipment to fight injustice while not being overcome by it.”

Dates' challenge extends beyond any political event. He calls Christians to consider how their beliefs shape responses to human dignity, educational opportunity, economic inequality and community well-being.

Beyond the pulpit, Dates has helped lead initiatives addressing mental health counseling, legal advocacy, literacy among Black boys and economic empowerment. He also co-leads Chicago's “Spend in the Black Commerce Corridor,” encouraging support for Black-owned businesses on the city's South Side.

A sought-after speaker, Dates preaches at churches, conferences and universities throughout the United States and abroad. A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduate, he earned a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. in historical theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is a Burnham Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and former Chicago Bears chaplain.

What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness? Reclaiming the Intersection of Protest and Prayer is available through major booksellers.

Dates is available for national and local television, radio, print, podcast and digital interviews about faith and justice, Christian nationalism, the civil rights movement and the continuing relevance of protest and prayer.

Monica Fountain
Monica Fountain
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