The Rev. James Meeks will step down next year as head of one of the city’s largest Black congregations, ending a 38-year run at the South Side church he founded.
In his sermon Sunday at Salem Baptist Church, Meeks said he would officially step down in January and pastor Charlie Dates would become head of the 10,000-member South Side congregation. Meeks said he will continue to work with Salem’s philanthropic organization, Hope House.
