Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball

As we moved into the Advent season we celebrated the life and morned the death of the beloved Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball.

I personally met the reverend at Youth 2007, a quadrennial global um youth event. She was one of our speakers and being cool like I am (not) I was back stage to briefly meet this pastor I had heard so much about. Her words were graceful and love filled to the congregation of 7,000 teenagers. She shared of her fight with cancer and her friendship with Celia Whitler, who is where I first heard of her passing.

The methoblogosphere community, not to mention her facebook pages, has errupted in an outpouring of celebration of the woman that meant so much to so many.

Amy has a wonderful posting, sharing an intimate and powerful witness of her baptizing individuals while in the deep days of hospice care.

Eric shares a his emotional thoughts being close to the family (receiving a call from Bill, her husband).

No blog, no memorial, can ever be eloquent enough to honor the life of such an incredible woman.

One thing I know as a member of the United Methodist Church and constant observer of the church. We are not the best at uplifting all the gifted people in our church as examples for others (especially the younger ones whom I am most concerned with) especially the women in leadership of the church. It is sad to not only feel the loss of a young mother, but a gifted pastor who had not only been recognized by her own tribes, but the church as a whole for all to see and be inspired by. This week is a true loss for the Baskin-Ball family and friends as well as our church.