Who We Are
Our Communities
The Community of Congregations originated in Oak Park and River Forest. We welcome congregations to join us who are also in the western Chicagoland area.
Active congregations and organizations include:
- Ascension and St. Edmund Roman Catholic Parish, Oak Park
- Baha’i Community of Oak Park
- Dominican University, River Forest
- Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, Oak Park
- Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, Oak Park
- First Baptist Church, Oak Park
- First United Church, Oak Park
- First United Methodist Church, Oak Park
- Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park
- Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Oak Park
- New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago
- Oak Park Friends Meeting
- Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion
- River Forest United Methodist Church
- Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oak Park
- St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish, Oak Park
- St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Oak Park
- St. Edmund Parish, Oak Park
- Third Unitarian Church, Chicago
- United Lutheran Church, Oak Park
- Unity Temple UU Congregation, Oak Park
- West Suburban Temple Har Zion, River Forest
In addition, many people of compassion participate in our activities who are not members of one of these congregations.
Board of Directors
Officers
President: Rev. Colin Knapp, Pilgrim Congregational Church
Vice President: Ayesha Akhtar, Islamic Foundation Villa Park
Treasurer: Tony Graefe, St. Luke & St. Bernadine Parish
Secretary: Zina Riley, Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
Members at Large
Robin Arbetman, Oak Park Temple
Rev. George Arceneaux, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
Morris Applebaum, West Suburban Temple Har Zion
Bertha Purnell, St. John Bible Church
Rev. Adonna Reid, First United Methodist Church of Oak Park
Father John Rumple, Grace Episcopal Church
Administrative Secretary, Katie Avalos
2024 Membership Drive
Congregations in Oak Park, River Forest, and surrounding areas participate with the Community of Congregations through membership which supports our ministries like Holiday Food and Gift Baskets and Multi-Faith Thanksgiving Service. Our membership year begins in January, and we hope that your faith community will actively participate. Please consider contributing at one of the recommended levels:
Up to 25 members: $100
25-50 members: $200
51-100 members: $300
101-200 members: $400
More than 200 members: $500
Please send your membership dues along with the name(s), address(es), email(s), and phone number(s) for your faith leader(s), administrator, and up to three delegates to:
Community of Congregations
P.O. Box 3365
Oak Park, IL 60303-3365
