The Reverend Nancy L. J. Cox

The Reverend Nancy Lynn Johannes Cox served All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Concord from 2010–2025, leaving a legacy of faith, healing, service, and community engagement. Through faithful leadership and pastoral care, she guided All Saints’ in continuing and expanding its mission as a transformational faith community committed to sharing the love of Jesus in the world. Worship services with Nancy were rich in the Episcopal tradition. Her sermons enmeshed scripture with historical context. Her unique and creative way of teaching helped us understand why and how the gospel is still relevant in our lives today. She was creative in her preaching, adding different kinds of services like Taize’ and Celtic worship. Women Touched by Grace is a highly regarded spiritual renewal and peer-mentoring program for female clergy, and Nancy was accepted into that program.

In her first years, she focused on healing and understanding family dynamics. With guest leaders like Rev. John Rice and Bishop Sean Rowe assisting All Saints’ to understand generational healing and forgiveness, open communication, and system dynamics. She was instrumental in leading the congregation through a highly successful Capital Campaign, which achieved greater financial stability for the Church, not only paying off the debt, but also providing funds for deferred maintenance and investments. She helped develop a comprehensive facilities and grounds plan, expanded the Gardens of ASEC to include Creation Care ministry, and nurtured a flourishing children’s ministry. New initiatives included the Tour de Saints bike ride and After Dark at All Saints’. The proceeds from both of these support outreach ministries in the community. She also strengthened the parish’s worship life through the Maundy Thursday All-Parish Meal with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar, Wednesday healing services, livestream and online worship, and the innovative Perch Church ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Service of Light in 2021was a powerful memorial to those lost to COVID-19 in our community. Nancy had chairs placed at the front of the property, with a luminary on each chair, as her vision to help the community in their grief.

A dedicated advocate for spiritual formation, Nancy mentored those in the ordination process: Michael Whitnah and Emily Badgett were ordained into the Holy Order of priests, and Jackie Whitfield to the Holy Order of vocational Deacons. Regarding lay-led initiatives, Nancy supported ministries throughout All Saints’, developing new ones including Education for Ministry, the Society of St. Luke, Stephen Ministry, Daughters of the King, Elder Care, and Icon Workshops, as well as fostering healing and spiritual growth across generations and families. She designed the Jennifer Cobb Memorial Labyrinth, which was dedicated in October 2025. She also played an instrumental role on the team that established the Lockhart Child Development Center, a faith-based public-private partnership serving children from eight weeks to five years of age.

Nancy’s ministry also reflected a deep commitment to community partnerships and outreach. She helped sustain and strengthen long-standing relationships with organizations founded by All Saints’ including Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM), Cabarrus Victim Assistance Network (CVAN), Wesbury and Wesbury Plaza Apartments, the Community Free Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Splashpaw Foundation, and the Salvation Army Night Shelter. New partnerships established during her tenure included the Early Childhood Foundation of Cabarrus County, Racial Equity Cabarrus, and adult literacy initiatives. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Koinonia Discernment process led All Saints’ into new ministries with AYA House and Fred L. Wilson School. Beyond the parish, Nancy offered significant leadership within the Diocese of North Carolina, serving as Chair of the Standing Committee and as a member of the Commission on Ministry, where she contributed to the restructuring of the priestly ordination application process and the training of local Parish Discernment Committee members.

Her commitment to the global mission further extended All Saints’ ministry through partnerships and mission work in Ecuador, Haiti, and Honduras.

Nancy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and baptized at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral. She is the eldest of three children born to Richard and Suzanne Johannes. Her father’s career in the United States Submarine Service led the family to live in port cities across the United States, including Charleston, SC, New Orleans, LA, Norfolk, VA, and Seattle, WA. She took an undergraduate degree from Princeton University in Geology and Geophysics with a concentration in Geochemistry, a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin, and a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. Nancy has four children, Samuel Adam Cox (Caddie Lane Cox), Thomas Vincent Cox (Maddie Fontein), James Maxwell Cox (Megan Lyn Fay Cox), and Jazzmine Elizabeth Cox. She enjoys sailing, rowing, knitting, and hiking and has twice completed the Camino de Santiago.

We are blessed that she walked with us for over 15 years. Her heart and her prayers are visible all over this community, but especially through her legacy here at All Saints’. We pray for her as she continues to carry Christ’s light into the world.

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.