Chaplain Keizer Remembered for Service to God and Country

Rev. Herman Keizer, who died last week in a Grand Rapids, Mich. hospital, was the most successful and well-known United States military chaplain that the Christian Reformed Church in North America has ever had.

While working in Washington D.C., he wrote policies for a number of changes in the military. This included an updated policy on Selective Conscientious Objection and a policy to require the Department of Defense to have Kosher Meals Ready to Eat for Jewish soldiers. He was also the personal chaplain of Colin Powell, who served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and went on to serve as Secretary of State.

As a U.S. Army chaplain during the Vietnam War, Keizer was wounded twice — in a rocket attack on a fire-base in Cambodia and in a 159 foot fall in a helicopter accident. In recent years, he has spearheaded the national move to address what is known as “moral injury,” the belief that war can deeply traumatize a soldier’s religious and moral convictions.

“His name is still known throughout the U.S. in chaplaincy and in the military for his work and for who he was,” said Rev. Sarah Roelofs, director of the CRC’s Chaplaincy and Care Ministry.

After retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of Colonel, Keizer served as director of the CRC chaplain’s office from 2002 to 2009, continuing his work with military chaplains and expanding the office in other ways.

“Herman Keizer will be long remembered as a chaplain’s chaplain,” said Fred Koning, a CRCNA hospital chaplain.

“Only weeks before his own death, he officiated at the   memorial service that celebrated the life of his predecessor, Rev.  Hal Bode,” the first director of the chaplaincy office.

“It was no surprise for us in chaplaincy to read of him serving Hal’s family in this way. Herman Keizer’s absence will be felt in the chaplaincy corps largely because of his love and concern for his fellow chaplains.” 

In a 2001 interview with the Calvin College Spark,, Keizer offered insight into his ministry, saying that Matthew 18:20 has a very special place in his heart.

"I discovered very early on in my ministry that this passage took on a new sense of meaning in combat, 'Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them,'" he said.

Keizer was a man deeply motivated by his faith and service to others, said Peter Borgdorff, emeritus executive director of the CRC, who first met Keizer when they were students at Calvin Seminary in the late 1960s.

“We have been colleagues and friends ever since. Herm was a fun-loving, kind and compassionate person,” said Borgdorff.

Serving in the army for 30 years, and after his formal military retirement serving in other capacities on the national level, Keizer did not have a high profile denominationally except when he would attend chaplaincy conferences or drop by the denominational offices while on leave, said Borgdorff.

“Despite long absences while serving internationally, Herm was committed to the Lord, enthusiastically loyal to the theological heritage of the CRC, to the church as an institution, and happily served it as he had opportunity,” said Borgdorff.

The loss of Keizer and Bode, two of its former leaders, in such a short time is sad and, especially during the Christmas season, a cause for heavy hearts, said Rev. Ron Klimp, who took over as chaplaincy director from Keizer and retired last  year.

“We all live and grow on the shoulders of those who preceded us on our path. I am so glad that both Herm and Hal were able to be with us at our last annual conference. Many of our newer chaplains met them for the first (and last) time on that occasion,” he said.

Carl Kammeraad, a retired CRCNA pastor, recalls how important it was to have Keizer as a member of the Synodical study committee on Peace and War that ran from 2003 to 2006 and which Kammeraad chaired.

“I couldn’t have done it without Herm’s wisdom on the subject and his political savvy regarding the history and culture of the CRCNA related to this subject,” said Kammeraad.

“This committee was made up of some of the top thinkers on this subject within U.S. and Canada, philosophers, teachers, lobbyists for justice in both Washington, D.C, and Canada, and military chaplains.

“But only Herm had lived with the tension of peace and war during his decades-long service as an Army chaplain.

“He had served senior ranking officers in the U.S. Pentagon, had written and lobbied for a Selective Conscientious Objection policy, and worked as an advocate for religious pluralism and a recognition of the moral injury of war on our military members.”
 
The Synodical Report on War and Peace calls upon all Christians to embrace the vocation to “build peace with justice.”

“It particularly exposes the flaws and offers a correction to the … foreign policy doctrine of ‘Preventive War’ which we saw applied in the U.S. invasion of Iraq,” said Kammeraad.

Keizer testified before synod about the 40-page report he wrote, as well as the appendix to the report spelling out what are Just War criteria.

 “I will miss his voice and his presence as we continue to address opportunities and challenges within the Chaplaincy and Care ministries of the CRCNA,” said Kammeraad.

Keizer served in various positions in different locations around the world as a chaplain. In 1998, after reaching mandatory retirement age, he was recalled by the Secretary of the Army to serve as Military Assistant for Leadership and Human Relations to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

In July 2000, his recall was extended by the Secretary of Defense and he became an Advisor to the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom at the Department of State. He served in that position until retirement from the military in 2002.

He was the recipient of many awards and medals, including the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; the Soldier’s Medal; the Bronze Star; the Purple Heart; and the  Meritorious Service Medal. 

In May, 2000, Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., named Keizer a distinguished alumni, and in May 2003 Calvin Theological Seminary named Keizer a Distinguished Alumni.

He was married to Ardis Louise (Groeneveld) Keizer. They have two grown sons, Bryan and Randall. “Those who knew Herm and Ardis know that she was at his right hand in too many ways to enumerate,” said Borgdorff.

In a tribute to the man he called a mentor, Koning said Keizer helped the chaplaincy corps to see beyond the surface and appreciate afresh the depth and breadth of God’s love for those who experience the wounds of life. 

“Chaplaincy ministry occurs  at the  margins of organizations and institutions. It is often one step removed from the congregation and carries with it unavoidable isolation,” said Koning. 

“With the passing of Harold Bode and Herman Keizer, I’m all the more grateful to my Christian Reformed denomination for providing each one of us  with a chaplain’s chaplain, both past and present.”

Visitation for Herm Kezier is from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. on Thursday,  Jan. 4 at Zaagman Memorial Chapel in Grand Rapids. Funeral Service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday Jan. 5 at LaGrave Avenue CRC in  Grand Rapids.

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