A Disciples Congregation on Main Street in Bourbonnais
Central Christian Church sits on Main Street NW in Bourbonnais, a community in Kankakee County, Illinois. The congregation is a progressive, welcoming community of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) known for its weekly celebration of communion, its commitment to social justice, and its distinctive home at The Grow Center, a community ministry hub that doubles as the church's worship space.
Worship Twice a Month at The Grow Center
Central has settled into a distinctive rhythm of gathering. Twice a month, on the second and fourth Sundays, the congregation comes together at 10:00 a.m. for worship inside The Grow Center at 310 Main Street NW. The bimonthly schedule has allowed the small congregation to focus its energy on deeper engagement when it gathers, while staying connected online between services.
The Grow Center is more than a worship space. It is a legacy of Central Christian Church itself, a place where the congregation's work in the wider Kankakee County community takes shape through partnerships with nonprofits, individuals, and organizers. Worship happens within that wider mission, and visitors often notice the difference right away. The space feels collaborative rather than formal, and the atmosphere carries the warmth of a community that values conversation as much as ceremony.
What to Expect on Sunday Morning
First-time guests are invited to come as they are comfortable. Jeans, suits, dresses, and everything in between are welcome. Some regulars dress up, some dress casually, and the congregation's clear message is that visitors should be themselves and come and worship.
Worship generally runs about one hour and includes prayer, music (typically hymns), an offering, a scripture reading, a sermon, and communion. On the table to the right as visitors enter, they can pick up a worship bulletin and communion supplies. Signs and greeters point the way to the sanctuary.
The church encourages first-time visitors to fill out a brief visitor form so the congregation can get to know them better.
Communion Every Sunday at the Table of the Lord
One of the most distinctive practices at Central Christian Church is the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper. As members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the congregation gathers at the table each Sunday to share in communion, an act that lies at the very heart of Disciples identity.
The Disciples tradition holds that all who believe in Jesus are welcome at the Lord's Table. Central lives this out by inviting every person present, member or visitor, to share in communion. The chalice, the denomination's central symbol, is used as the church's logo for the same reason: Disciples life is centered at the table, and through communion the community is connected to one another and to God through Jesus Christ.
Disciples of Christ: Identity and Core Values
Central Christian Church is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination that grew out of two movements seeking Christian unity that sprang up almost simultaneously in western Pennsylvania and Kentucky in the early 1800s. Both movements were reactions against the rigid denominationalism of their day, and both sought to reform the body of Christ by bringing healing, hope, compassion, and justice to a world fragmented by hate, violence, war, greed, poverty, and oppression.
From its constitution and bylaws, Central states its vision plainly: "to be a welcoming community of disciples of Christ." Its purpose is "to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in faithful response to God's will and purpose as revealed through Jesus Christ and in the world; to encourage in all persons an increasing faith and commitment to Jesus Christ; to serve the community of which it is a part; to transcend all barriers within the human family such as race, gender, sexual orientation, abilities and culture; AND to be faithful in Christian stewardship."
The Disciples tradition brings with it a set of core values that shape Central's life. These include the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper, believer's baptism by immersion, open membership that respects the traditions of the whole church, the importance of scripture read within the community of faith, congregational authority freely shared with a connected wider church, the inclusion of women in leadership at every level, an emphasis on lay leadership (lay persons are permitted and encouraged to preside at the Lord's Table, even performing duties often reserved for ordained clergy in other traditions), an educated and accountable clergy, and a deep commitment to ecumenical life.
Disciples also reject creeds as tests of faith. They celebrate diversity as strength rather than weakness, and they do not expect everyone's interpretation of the Bible or the Christian life to be identical. This tolerant, scripturally rooted, communion-centered identity gives Central its progressive, welcoming posture.
The Grow Center: A Hub of Collaborative Ministry
Central Christian Church is the parent organization of The Grow Center, a community-based ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Grow Center is described as "a hub of collaborative relationships among organizations, nonprofits, individuals, and community organizers cultivating inner peace and a peaceful community."
The mission of The Grow Center is "to grow pathways for healthy relationships, effective organizations, cultural shifts, and individual wellness, wholeness, and peace." It hosts Partners & Programs that range across the community, and the church encourages visitors to look at what is happening there as a way of understanding the breadth of the congregation's work in Kankakee County.
Worship is held at The Grow Center, and the building also functions as a gathering place for community events and partnerships that reach well beyond the congregation itself.
Rev. Kelly Perotti: Minister and Program Director
Rev. Kelly Perotti serves as Central's Minister and as Program and Communications Director for The Grow Center. She holds a BA in English from the University of New Mexico and brings years of experience in a variety of ministry settings. She was approved for Commissioned Ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in February 2019, and at the time of her last biographical update she was pursuing a Master of Divinity through Phillips Theological Seminary, with plans to write her thesis on the church and domestic violence.
Perotti is actively involved with the local Community Commission to End Domestic Violence and has been a United Way Community Impact Volunteer. Her writing was published in "Fresh Insights for Thriving in Today's World," an NIV Devotional Bible for Women, in 2015. She is the mother of two sons.
Earlier ministry at Central was shaped in part by Rev. Robert Bushey, the congregation's previous senior minister, who worked alongside Perotti to lead the church through a season of change and a careful return to in-person gathering.
Rooted in Bourbonnais Since 1893
Central Christian Church has been a presence in Bourbonnais for more than 130 years. The congregation traces its roots to the American frontier, where Disciples congregations spread across the Midwest during the late 19th century, and it has lived through the long arc of the denomination's growth in Kankakee County.
The church's history has included a transformation into The Grow Center, the community ministry hub that now hosts its worship and reaches out into the wider community of Kankakee County. That history continues to shape the congregation's identity as a small but deeply rooted faith community in northern Illinois.
Justice, Inclusion, and Pro-Reconciliation
Central Christian Church has made social justice and inclusion central to its identity. As a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it embraces the denomination's Pro-reconciliation/Anti-Racism Initiative as one of its four priorities. The initiative calls the church to make visible God's beloved community, to listen to once-silenced voices, to learn from their wisdom, and to gain insight from their leadership.
The goal is to "transform, strengthen and deepen the church's spirituality, resulting in a community that understands its mission to be about bringing justice and salvation to the world." Central has lived this out through conversations on racism and LGBTQ inclusion, partnerships with local leaders, and a public commitment to welcoming all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, or culture.
The congregation has also answered God's call for justice in the areas of care for the earth, the challenges for women and children, poverty and hunger, and immigration. Some in the Disciples tradition say the church "gets dirty for Jesus" as a way of conveying the hands-on mission orientation that many of its faith communities share.
Formation: Classes, Bible Studies, and Learning Together
Central offers a steady rhythm of formation opportunities for adults, youth, and children. The church has run seasonal sermon series paired with book studies, including a study of "The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life," based on the book by Adam Hamilton, and an Advent class on "Singing Mary's Song" using John A. Stroman's guide to Mary's song of freedom and hope.
Baptism and membership classes have been offered for both youth and adults, walking participants through what Disciples believe and what it means to be baptized. The class typically meets several Sundays in a row, with baptisms and affirmations of faith celebrated at the end of the series.
Lenten formation has included a Supper & Study series on Sunday evenings during Lent, exploring the importance of Easter and people's encounters with Jesus leading up to it. The church has also offered an adult Sunday school class during Advent and special Lenten studies.
Holy Week services have traditionally included a Maundy Thursday "passed meal" with finger foods followed by a drama, Good Friday services at noon and 7:00 p.m. with a multimedia worship experience, and a Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Advent worship has featured Lessons & Carols, and the church has hosted a Christmas Eve candlelight gathering that brings the congregation together to mark the birth of Christ.
Music and the Arts in Worship
Music at Central tends toward traditional hymns, and the worship service places singing at the heart of the liturgy. The congregation has marked Advent and Christmas with special music, including Lessons & Carols and an annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service that brings the year to a close with the singing of "O Holy Night" and other beloved carols.
The Disciples tradition holds that the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper is the central act of Christian worship, and music at Central flows from that communion-centered identity. The congregation has also engaged the arts through sermon series that have used painting, sculpture, and other visual media as springboards for reflection on the Christian life.
Online Worship and Connection
Central maintains an active online presence that complements its in-person worship. Sermons and full virtual worship services are available on the church's YouTube channel, and online worship is also available on the Facebook page @cccbourbonnais. The congregation has a presence on Instagram and Twitter as well.
For those who want to support the church, giving is available through the Church Center App, through PayPal, and in person during worship. The church accepts cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet through a Square reader. Checks may be made payable to Central Christian Church. Designated giving options include the General Fund, Disaster Relief (Week of Compassion), the Building Maintenance Fund, the Memorial Fund, and Blessings in a Backpack River Valley Communities.
Approximately 97% of online gifts are received by Central after online processing fees. The church publishes a regular email bulletin and a text-messaging system for time-sensitive announcements, and an online prayer group offers a place for prayer requests and mutual support.
A Welcoming Door in Kankakee County
Central Christian Church sits in the heart of Bourbonnais, a community in Kankakee County. From its home at The Grow Center, the congregation gathers twice a month to worship, share communion, study scripture, and serve the wider community. Whether members come from long Disciples roots in the region or are new to the area, the church's posture is the same: all are welcome at the table, all are invited into the journey, and all are encouraged to grow as disciples of Christ.