Bishop John Hopkins and the Northern Illinois Cabinet are pleased to appoint Rev. Britt Cox as Associate Pastor at Evanston: First United Methodist Church effective July 1, 2022. The assignment is made for the following missional reasons:
- Strong gifts and skills with non-profit and church administration—finance, building, staffing
- Actively works with laity to bring vision into reality
- Commitment and passion for social justice, antiracism work and lgbtqia+ inclusion with the UMC
- Previous multi-staff church experience and the ability to work well in team ministry
- Creative worship leader, preacher and teacher
Rev. Britt Cox (she/her) describes herself as a lifelong United Methodist and a mystic by choice. As an ordained Elder serving in the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC), she is currently Pastor at Church of the Three Crosses in Chicago, IL. Her focus has been on facilitating a process of renewed vision for ministry, fostering community connections during the times of COVID, and strengthening the administrative structure of the congregation.
In 2014, Rev. Cox was appointed as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Member Care at First United Church of Oak Park. It was there that Britt developed an engagement continuum for new and long-time church members to connect more intentionally. Prior to becoming ordained, Britt worked in a variety of non-profits that centered around addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and building community coalitions. While attending seminary, Britt served as a Marketing and Fundraising Associate at Chicago Theological Seminary. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Communication Studies from Southwestern University and her Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Rev. Cox is a member of the NIC General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation, the NIC Board of Ordained Ministry, and has previously served on both the NIC Board of Church and Society and NIC Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships. She has both worked and volunteered for Reconciling Ministries Network to organize churches and Annual Conference groups towards full inclusion in the United Methodist Church.
Britt’s call to ordained ministry came at the age of twelve while attending a United Methodist summer camp, but she credits her style of ministry to her parents who were not pastors but worked in the service industry; her mother is a flight attendant and her father worked in the restaurant industry. It was through them that Britt learned that God’s image is reflected in the diversity of people, food is a spiritual need as much as a physical one, and that everyone’s story is a gift to be treasured.
In ministry, Rev. Cox is passionate about communities that seek to boldly live out their call in the world, worship that honors authenticity, and story-sharing as a way to build community connections. Whether it be through spiritual practices, fellowship, education or worship, Britt enjoys creating meaningful opportunities for spiritual journeys. She values transparency, humor, collaboration, creativity, trust, and vulnerability. The scriptures that Rev. Cox is most drawn to are ones in which Jesus seeks out those who are overlooked or disregarded by larger society. Her spirit feels most at home in nature and especially snorkeling or being close to water.
In her personal life, Britt loves all things foodie, sports, traveling, and her wonderful family. She lives with her wife, Jessica Hager, and their French Bulldog, Zeke, in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. Britt and Jessica are originally from Texas but have happily called Chicago (and its winters) home for the last eleven years. Britt is looking forward to the opportunity of being part of the welcoming, spirit-filled and inclusive ministry at First Evanston.