Message from DS

I remember vacationing in South Dakota as a child. We were in the middle of a prairie and I looked over the vastness and wondered why my parents brought me there. It seemed “SO BORING” at the time. All I could see was grass and openness. As a 12-year-old, I was not impressed. Soon, however, my father showed me a snake moving in the grasses. My mother pointed out very cute prairie dogs darting up and down in the sandy areas. Even my older sister found a mound of insects that rivaled downtown Chicago.  Initially, I had looked upon the prairies and thought that it was a lifeless and boring place. My parents showed me the abundance of life living in the prairies of the Dakotas. Prairie Central District is also full of life.

We have been forced to be separated and alone for a long time, but I know life is abundant in our churches. I cannot wait to meet those of you I do not yet know and discover the incredible life you have been living in Christ and for Christ. Welcome to the new Prairie Central District!! We are ready to live a life of love, peace, hope, and joy. Let’s all work together to discern how God might be calling us to make a huge impact in the world and show there is a lot of life in the Prairie.  As we head into a new way of doing church it is our connection that God has called us into that will strengthen us for the journey! GLORY TO GOD!  AMEN!

About Us

The Prairie Central District is the geographical "center" of the Northern Illinois Conference and is shepherded by District Superintendent Rev. Jeffry Bross. We are comprised of 75 clergy and 69 churches from Aurora to Oswego to Woodstock on the west side all the way to Schaumburg, McHenry and Elmhurst on the east side.  We reach from the Wisconsin border on the northern end to Joliet on the southern end.  We are rich in diversity, gifts, and graces as clergy and laity together seek to make the love of Christ a reality in each community.  We seek to be people of grace and intentionally connectional to one another, our conference, our denomination, our communities and the world.  

On this page, you will find contact information for our District leadership as well as upcoming events and news. 

Working together, the churches of the Prairie Central District invite you to join us as we navigate the sometimes still, sometimes choppy and sometimes stormy waters of life and faith.

Here you will find communities that are welcoming, generous and real.  Here you will find people that understand that we are all broken but we are strong in our belief that the unwavering grace of God is available to all of us, even when we fail.  Here you will find a place to belong.  Join us as we serve our neighbors, our communities and even our enemies and seek to fully realize God's potential in our lives.

Grace and peace,
Rev. Jeffry Bross

List of churches in the district
List of all NIC churches

District Contacts

303 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 2020
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312. 346.9766


District Superintendent
Rev. Jeffry Bross
Email
ext. 784

Administrative Assistant 
Leola Tucker
Email
ext. 733

District Lay Leader 
Leonard Jones Email

Superintendency Committee
Rev. Cindy Marino Email

District Committee on Ordained Ministry
Rev. Luis F. Reyes Email
Rev. Derek Rogers, Registrar Email
Rev. Eric Blachford, Co-Registrar Email

District Shepherding Team

Rev. Joseph Johnson, Co-Chair Email
Leonard Jones, Co-Chair Email
Patti Cash Email
Rev. Jeremiah Lee Email
Rev. Cynthia Anderson Email
Rev. Mary Zajac Email

United Women in Faith President
Betty Erickson  Email

UMM President
Jim Nelson Email

Buildings and Location
Rev. Mary Zajac Email

Disaster Coordinator
Colin Monk Email