Welcome to the Chicago Southern District

I greet you on behalf of the 49 local churches, two campus ministries and the many other exciting ministries that exist within the District!  

The district is made up of a diverse people representing both urban and suburban communities.  

It is framed by Interstate 290, some parts of Interstate 294, Lake Michigan and just beyond Interstate 80. Each of our faith communities is involved in a variety of missions and outreach ministries.  

Both the clergy and laity are working faithfully to carry out the Great Commission of Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World. (Matthew 28:16-20)

If you are seeking a place to worship, to grow in your faith, to engage in mission and outreach and to build lasting relationships, then you are invited to join a United Methodist congregation nearest you. Within these local faith communities, you will find a warm, welcoming people who are filled with the love of Christ!

~Grace and Peace, Jacques A. Conway, District Superintendent

The mission of the Chicago Southern District of the Northern Illinois Conference is to encourage, equip, connect and support our local churches in their call to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

District Contacts:
Chicago Southern District Office
77 W. Washington Street, Suite 1820
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312. 346.9766

District Superintendent
Rev. Dr. Jacques A. Conway ext. 733 jconway@umcnic.org

Administrative Assistant
Debbie Rogers ext. 732 drogers@umcnic.org

District Shepherding Team

Co-Chairs

John Abney (Co-Lay Leader), johnabney2000@gmail.com
David R. Price (Clergy), 3fishandaloaf@sbcglobal.net

Co-Lay Leader
Dawn Shires gshires69@yahoo.com

Location and Building
Chair Tommy Taylor, Jr. ttj26@aol.com

District Committee on Ordained Ministry
Chair Wendy Witt wendy@chicagotemple.org

New Church Development and Revitalization 
Chair Grace Oh graceoh710@gmail.com

At-Large Members
Andrea Hargrave (Lay), hargrave.aj@gmail.com 
Rosa Garcia (Lay), rosa43garflo@yahoo.com 
Eugene Williams (Lay), 185cpd@gmail.com 
Karl D. F. Sokol (Clergy), umchurch@gmail.com 
Dennis M. Oglesby, Jr. (Clergy), dennismoglesbyjr@gmail.com 
Jacqueline P. Ford (Clergy), rev.ford@sbcglobal.net 

Connectional Table
Jim Barry texbarry1@yahoo.com

District Committee on Ordained Ministry
Rev. Wendy Witt, chair
312.898.6804
wendy@chicagotemple.org

Rev. Timothy Biel, Jr., registrar
708.271.2998
revbiel@att.net

Lay Servant Ministries
Irma Clark irmklarc@aol.com

Missions Secretary
Jan Paris janstoneparis@hotmail.com

UMW President     
Yvette Harris-Black divaeva65@gmail.com

UM Men President
Ralph Jones, Sr. rajonessr48@sbcglobal.net

Superintendency Committee
Chair Jacqueline Ford rev.ford@sbcglobal.net