Reverend Kathleen Baskin-Ball,
Senior Pastor (2001-2008)
Biography
 On June 17, 2001 we welcomed Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball to Suncreek UMC as Senior Pastor. Kathleen was born in Dallas and raised in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch area. She earned her B.A. in
Psychology from North Texas State University in 1981 and her Master of Divinity
from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 1986. She was ordained as Deacon and
Probationary Member of the North Texas Conference in 1983 and as Elder and Full
Member of the North Texas Conference in 1988.
Kathleen’s earlier positions in ministry include 3 years at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church in Carrollton, 2 years as Director of Youth Ministries and 1 year as Associate Pastor. She was also an Intern Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls for one year. She was appointed to serve as Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Denton for 4 years, where she worked extensively with youth and their families.
Kathleen was appointed as the founding Pastor of a new Hispanic ministry in West Dallas in 1989. She took an intensive 5-week Spanish course in Cuernavaca, Mexico to prepare for her appointment at Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) Fellowship. She served this bilingual church in a multi-ethnic, lower income, and inner-city neighborhood. They grew to a membership of 130 and were constituted as a United Methodist Church in April of 1994.
Kathleen was the highly respected Senior Pastor at Greenland Hills United Methodist Church from 1994 to 2001. The church is located in the eclectic Lower Greenville Avenue area of Dallas. During her tenure, membership doubled in size and the budget increased over 2.5 times. They completed extensive building renovations, including a beautiful transformation of the sanctuary. They grew from a limited part-time staff to a multiple-ministerial staff. Children and Youth Ministries flourished during Kathleen's 7-year tenure at Greenland Hills. The church became very active in hands-on missions work, including frequent adult and youth team mission trips. Kathleen was the President of East Dallas Cooperative Parish and Chair of the Pastor’s Group of the Parish.
Kathleen was recognized on a number of occasions for her dynamic preaching. In late 2004, she preached at the North Texas Conference Clergy Retreat. During 2005, she was one of the featured leaders and preachers for SpiLiRa, a Spiritual Life Rally for youth that was sponsored by the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC and she taught part of a clergy leadership course provided by Texas Methodist Foundation. Kathleen’s 2006 speaking and preaching engagements included, Perkins School of Youth Ministry, two youth retreats for the Texas Conference, events for the Goldsboro District of the North Carolina Conference, a youth mission retreat for the Central Texas Conference, a Sherman-McKinney District UMW Event, and two Texas Methodist Foundation clergy events.
 In early 2007, Kathleen was scheduled to preach at youth events in the Southwest Texas and New Mexico Conferences. A diagnosis of cancer prohibited her from participating in these events. (See more information about this diagnosis below.) In July 2007, she attended and preached at Youth 07, a national United Methodist youth event attended by about 7,500 youth that was held in Greensboro, NC. She also preached at a Sunday Evening service at Lovers Lane UMC in late July as part of their Excellence of Word and Worship series.
In January 2008, Kathleen preached at a youth event in Ocean City, MD attended by about 4,500 youth and at Perkins School of Youth Ministry. In February, she preached at the 2008 National Children's Ministry Forum. Kathleen led the North Texas Conference’s Clergy delegation to 2008 General Conference in April. General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. Kathleen chaired the Ministry and Higher Education Legislative Committee at General Conference. She led the clergy delegation to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference in Dallas on July 15-19, 2008.
Kathleen held many youth ministry leadership positions beyond the local church. These include District Youth Coordinator, Conference Youth Coordinator, Teacher for the Youth Ministry Certification Course in Theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She also is a founder, teacher, and worship leader for the Annual Perkins School of Youth Ministry.
Kathleen served on many North Texas Conference Committees including the Board of Trustees, Board of Ordained Ministries, Hispanic Commission, Task Force on the Status of Clergywomen, Task Force on Urban Ministry, Joint Review Committee, and Board of Church and Society. She was on the Board of Directors of Wesley-Rankin Community Center. She was elected as an Alternate to Jurisdictional Conference in 1996, as first Alternate to General Conference in 2000, and as a Delegate to the General Conferences of 2004 and 2008.
Her election in June 2003 as a clergy delegate to General Conference marked the first time a woman serving a local church appointment was elected by the Conference. In 2007, she became the first clergywoman elected to lead the conference's six-member clergy delegation. At the conclusion of 2004, she became the first woman serving as Senior Pastor of a Christian Church in the Dallas area to reach the 500 person average annual worship attendance mark. Rev. Baskin-Ball was named Best Pastor in Collin County in the 2006 Reader’s Choice Awards sponsored by Star Community Newspapers.
In 2008, Kathleen began serving as Chair of the North Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Kathleen's leadership positions included Chair of the Conference Clergy Retreat Committee (1998 - 2004), Co-Director and Camp Pastor for SEEK Camp (Summer Events for Exceptional Kampers) which serves children, youth, and young adults with disabilities, Chair of a Conference committee that focuses on revitalizing medium size churches (2003-2006). Chair of the Probationary Membership Committee of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (2004-2007), Secretary of the Dallas Northeast District Committee on Ministry (2002-2007).
She was a Professor of Preaching in the North Texas Conference Licensing School for Local Pastors. She also served on the Task Force to Implement the African-American Plan for the North Texas Conference, the North Texas Conference Task Force on Clergy Effectiveness, and the Board of Directors of the Texas Methodist Foundation Institute for Clergy and Congregational Excellence (2006-date). She played an active role in mentoring persons pursuing ordained ministry. This includes serving as a Mentor Pastor with Perkins School of Theology since 1988.
Kathleen’s mission’s activities included leading many mission trips in the U.S. and around the world. She participated in continuing education seminars and mission activities in Mexico, El Salvador, South Africa, and the Czech and Slovak Republics. She led many teams to Mexico. She co-led Suncreek's first adult and youth mission trips to Juarez, Mexico to build homes for impoverished families.
 In Allen, Texas, Kathleen was part of the Attending Clergy Group for Presbyterian Hospital of Allen. She worked with the Allen Clergy Association, including preaching at a community Lenten worship service. Kathleen was a dedicated member of the Allen Sunrise Rotary Club.
Kathleen married to Bill D. Ball, Jr. in 2001. They had one child, Skyler. She listed her hobbies as softball, eating lobster, traveling, playing guitar, listening to music, and reading.
What a joy it was to have Kathleen as our Senior Pastor! She was an extraordinarily gifted person. Her preaching moved our minds and hearts. She had an infectious loving spirit that permeated the church. Her wisdom and attentive listening offered comfort during times of pain and loss. Her strong faith helped move us to take bold action to live out our faith in the world. Glory Be!
Newspaper Articles
Click here to view a April 7, 2007 Dallas Morning News -Allen Neighbors article.
Click here to view a April 8, 2007 Channel 8 (ABC-TV) News story about Kathleen and Suncreek UMC.
Click here to view a April 21, 2007 Dallas Morning News article about Kathleen and the congregation.
Click here to view a Summer 2007 Dallas Morning News - Allen Neighbors article about Kathleen.
Click here to view a March 14, 2008 NTC UMR article about Kathleen serving as the Hopkins Lecturer at First United Methodist Church of Denton.
Click here to view a November 29, 2008 Dallas Morning News article about Kathleen.
Click here to view a December 2, 2008 Dallas Morning News article about Kathleen.
Click here to view a December 3, 2008 Dallas Morning News - editorial about Kathleen.
Click here to view a short video of the December 6, 2008 Memorial Service created by the Dallas Morning News.
Click here to view reflections about Kathleen by Amy Forbus of the United Methodist Reporter.
Click here to view reflections by Steve Harris of the Dallas Morning News about Kathleen and the Memorial Service.
Click here to view reflections by Sam Hodges of the Dallas Morning News about Kathleen and the Memorial Service.
Song
Click here to listen to the song One With for You by Celia & Ron Whiter that was written in honor of Kathleen and sung at the Memorial Service.
Kathleen regularly wrote a column
for Allen Magazine know as The Last Word.
Click the links below to view some of these articles.
Teaching Our Child To Say BOO! - Oct/Nov 05
It is in the Giving that there is Healing - Dec/Jan 05
Click here to listen to
some of Kathleen's Recent Sermons.
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Kathleen visited the new education building construction site a few days prior to her death.
She wrote this note on a steel beam. |
Kathleen's Journey with Cancer
On January 5, 2007, Kathleen learned that she has neuroendrocrine carcinoma. She had a mass of cancer about the size of a baseball in her chest cavity near her heart and lungs and extensive cancer throughout her liver. They are not sure where the cancer originated in her body. The cancer was growing very rapidly. Kathleen started her first round of chemotherapy in early January. At the end of January, she received some encouraging test results indicating that her liver functioning was improving and the cancer was responding to chemotherapy. In early March, a CAT scan revealed “greatly reduced” tumors. The tumor in her chest displayed about a 70% reduction in size. The tumors in her liver significantly decreased in both size and number. The largest tumor in her liver decreased about 60%. Additional progress in reducing the tumor in her chest cavity was observed in a CAT scan in late May. A PET scan in June 2007 revealed no living cancer cells in her chest cavity. Some small and large tumors remained in her liver with most located in the right lobe of her liver. More progress was seen on a July PET scan. A PET scan in late September, showed small areas of cancer in the right lobe of her liver. In the left lobe of her liver, there was only a very small area that might represent cancer, but it was too small to determine its composition. Kathleen's liver functioning had been within the normal range for many months. Her health was very good for many months, except for the side-effects of chemotherapy.
In October 2007, Kathleen received great news that her doctors recommended that she stop receiving the intense chemotherapy she has received from January to late September. She was elated to be off the meds that have powerful side effects like fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. She continued taking one chemotherapy drug as a maintenance medication.
At the end of November, Kathleen had another PET scan. It showed that cancer had returned in all the areas where it was previously found. The volume of cancer cells was not at the levels she had in January. All of Kathleen’s vital organs were functioning well. For example, her liver functioning remained in the normal range. Physically, Kathleen felt fairly good, except for some aches in her legs and feet that are a side effect from chemotherapy. Her doctors concluded that the medication that she had been taking in October and November had not been working.
Kathleen started a new medication in early December that also had less pronounced side effects. In February 2008, following 3 cycles of this medication, she had another PET scan. She had about 10 to 15% growth of the cancer in her liver, but the other areas of cancer showed significant reduction in activity. One of the three tests that measures liver function moved outside the normal range. Yet, in general, her liver functioning remained quite good. In early March , Kathleen began receiving three new chemotherapy medications. These medications seemed to keep the cancer from growing, but they did not shrink the tumors. In May, she began an experimental medication. The results after 10 days of treament were encouraging. Yet, in Mid-June tests displayed dramatic growth in the cancer. Kathleen's liver functioning was profoundy impaired.
In July 2008, Kathleen started a combination of chemotherapy drugs that was similar to what she received in early 2007. Her response to this medication was dramatic with some tests of liver functoning entering the normal range by early August.
Throughout intense chemotherapy, Kathleen only missed one Sunday that she was scheduled to preach and she filled in on very short notice for another preacher. She reduced her office hours as needed, especially during chemotherapy weeks. Chemotherapy has been very rough, but Kathleen keeps fighting through it.
There were several times throughout this journey when death seemed very close. There were other times when it seemed more distant. There were ups and downs along the way.
The church rallied around her to offer great support and love. The church continued to move forward with great energy. In the first several months of 2007, worship attendance increased dramatically and twice as many persons joined the church in early 2007 than in early 2006. Through all the challenges, love and faith have triumphed.
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Kathleen Update - Thursday, November 20, 2008
Kathleen had a PET Scan on Wednesday morning. They found that the cancer remained fairly small in her liver. However, the scan found some cancer in her brain near her cerebellum. An MRI on Wednesday evening, confirmed the cancer near the cerebellum and noted three other locations in the brain where there are very small areas of cancer. Kathleen has decided to not have any form of brain surgery or radiation treatment for the cancer in her brain. Those efforts would likely cause much more suffering than healing. She will begin receiving hospice care at home.
We are all very sad. We want to make the most of the time that she has left. Kathleen has fought this cancer with great might. She has only missed one Sundays when she was scheduled to preach over the past two years. She preached last Sunday despite many physical challenges. Many times, she has miraculously found the strength to keep moving forward in her ministry at Suncreek and in leadership positions beyond the local church. She is grateful to all of those who have permitted her to continue to be so active in ministry.
She has now reached a point where her body needs rest. Her spirit remains strong. She wants to spend what time remains saying goodbye.
She is trying to balance her need for rest with her need to remain very connected with others. The plan for now is to setup times each day when persons can stop by to visit.
We will post times on our front door and at the church.
Early in Kathleen’s illness, a group from Suncreek hung symbols of love and hope on the tree in our front yard. We loved this. We welcome anyone do so now.
District Superintendent Rev. Pat Beghtel Mahle will be preaching at Suncreek this Sunday. She will be working with the Bishop and leadership at Suncreek to develop a plan for ministerial leadership at Suncreek.
Kathleen wants to express her deep gratitude to all of those who keep offering her their prayers, love, and support. She wants you to know that she loves you.
Bill D. Ball, Jr
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December 2, 2008
Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball died this morning at 10:15am in her home. Sunday was a truly glorious day. Celebrating God's love, she held and baptized 37 of God's beautiful children, youth, and adults on Sunday afternoon. Suncreek's youth choir filled her den following the baptism service and sang mightily of faith while joy, laughter, and tears flowed. As I helped her into bed on Sunday night, she gave thanks for the day and expressed that she was ready to die. She said that her body was very weak and it was about time to give her body true rest.
On Monday, she spent the day in bed. Her body started to shut down and her breathing slowed. Throughout Monday night, we stayed awake to make sure that she was comfortable and free from pain.
I feel great loss. Yet, beginning Monday night, I started feeling a head to toe sense of joy. It was a feeling that her much deserved peace was near.
We did think that she would live a little longer. Yet, the time seems right.
I pray that as you face her loss you are able to find the peace that Kathleen and I found over the last few weeks.
Skyler and I need your prayers, but Kathleen has set a clear example for us about how to keep stepping forward and living a faithful life when facing adversity.
I know Kathleen would want me to tell you that she loves you!
Much Love
Bill
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