Nearing retirement, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow credits her United Methodist upbringing with impacting a lifetime of public service.
GLENN M. WAGNER
Michigan Conference Communications
Senator Debbie Stabenow is retiring at the end of this term after 24 years in the United States Senate and 50 years of elected public service. Her storied political career has included elected service in school, county, state, and federal government. Her legislative accomplishments directly benefit millions of Americans.
The first elected female U.S. senator from Michigan, Debbie Stabenow acknowledges with gratitude that her life as a Methodist remains a great influence on her values and passion to serve. She is one of 25 women currently serving in the Senate and the longest-serving of six U.S. senators (three men and three women) who identify as United Methodist.
The senator grew up as Debbie Greer in an active Methodist family in Clare, Michigan. Her family ran the local Oldsmobile dealership, and her mom was a nurse. Her family was also very musical. Debbie’s father was the children’s choir director at the Clare United Methodist Church, and her mother was gifted with a beautiful singing voice. Her dad also played the saxophone, and Debbie learned to play the piano, clarinet, and guitar.
Not only was her family regularly involved in church activities like worship leadership, choir, and leadership for the congregation’s Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), but her family’s musical group often traveled to sing for programs and worship services at many of the smaller rural Methodist congregations near Clare in central Michigan. Debbie learned skills for leadership and regional cooperation through her involvement with MYF. She was also elected president of her junior class at Clare High School, the first female class president at the school.
Senator Stabenow’s online biography notes, “Debbie Stabenow is relentlessly focused on standing up for Michigan families, helping Michigan businesses create jobs here at home and protecting our Great Lakes and outdoor heritage. Growing up in Clare, Debbie learned the importance of faith, family, and hard work. She and her family were active volunteers in the community and in the Clare United Methodist Church. Her mom and dad always told Debbie and her brothers if you benefit from the work of others, you have a responsibility to give something back.”
Because of her strong connection to faith and community, Debbie Stabenow grew up valuing the priorities of Jesus, such as love for others, compassion, and grace.
Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University (MSU) in 1972.
While studying for her master’s degree in social work at MSU in 1974, Debbie was inspired to run for a seat on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners after feeling angry at the efforts of one of the commissioners who was working to close a publicly funded nursing home. This was the only nursing home in the county providing care for the elderly poor.
Debbie won the seat on the county board and later became the youngest-ever chair of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. She succeeded in keeping the care facility open. She is profoundly grateful that the once-threatened medical care facility is still serving the residents of Ingham County. It is now in an upgraded building on Dobie Road in Okemos with 236 beds and has recently provided care for an elderly member of her own family.
Senator Stabenow’s political career has included elected service in both houses of the Michigan legislature and as a U.S. representative for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. When Senator Stabenow represented it, this district comprised all of Ingham and Livingston counties and parts of Genesee, Shiawassee, Oakland, and Washtenaw counties. District 8 has since been redrawn. She is one of only four women in U.S. history to have served in elected office for both houses of the federal and state legislatures.
Through the years, Senator Stabenow has been reelected by significant majorities because she has been clear about her legislative priorities and has helped deliver significant government service for Michiganders and people across the United States.
In 2006, Senator Stabenow was the keynote speaker of a United Methodist leadership training event held at Muskegon Community College, where she spoke about Medicare and Medicaid and her hopes that the government would be able to someday negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. In June of this year, Senator Stabenow helped secure funding to provide summertime meals for 21 million children nationwide, 900,000 in Michigan. The meals will cover the summertime gap for school children who would otherwise go hungry.
Stabenow coauthored the Affordable Care Act, which has provided affordable health care coverage for 45 million Americans. She has also been a leader in expanding services for women’s health and government-supported mental health clinics in Michigan and across the country. She is a national leader for children’s health care.
Stabenow has been a strong advocate for the Great Lakes, consistently defending against potential risks to this important resource, which directly benefits 30 million people who depend on it for their drinking water.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Stabenow has expanded farm support to encourage different types of agriculture and the development of farm markets. Farm legislation affects 22 million Americans employed in agriculture. She has engaged farmers in the ongoing efforts to help combat our climate crisis and global warming.
Senator Stabenow has also been a committed supporter of manufacturing and efforts to encourage job creation and small business development.
Stabenow acknowledges important lessons learned in how to get along in a divided Senate to achieve important things, even with people from opposing sides. She has learned to listen and respect others, even in disagreement, and make progress on minor matters where agreement can be reached.
Senator Stabenow also knows that national governance is not easy and decisions are often fraught with conflict. For example, environmentalists and people who make a living in the fossil fuel industry frequently disagree on legislative priorities. Senator Stabenow has tried to be a good listener and a defender of the common good.
Senator Stabenow looks forward to returning to Michigan in retirement to be close to her family, which maintains strong United Methodist connections in the greater Lansing area.
Senator Stabenow’s contributions to our collective welfare and her 50 years of elected public service in many levels of government bring to mind an important parable of Jesus in Matthew 25. In this parable, a master greets servants who have been given charge of his assets during his absence. Those who serve their master well are deservedly affirmed: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.”
Well done, Senator Debbie Stabenow! Thank you for your faithful service.
In addition to our gratitude for Senator Stabenow’s service, we extend our sincere condolences and prayers to the senator and her family on the news of the death of her mother, Ann Greer, on Monday, November 25, 2024. A service celebrating Ann’s life will be held at Lansing: Grace UMC in a few weeks.
Last Updated on November 27, 2024