First Chaplaincy Director, Hal Bode, Was 'Chaplain to the Chaplains'

Rev. Sarah Roelofs said she was nervous when Rev. Hal Bode walked into her office earlier this year after she was named the new director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America’s Office of Chaplaincy and Care Ministry.

After all, Bode, who passed away this past weekend in Grand Rapids, Mich., was well known and respected as the first director of the office. Not only was that intimidating to her, said Roelofs, but she also wondered what Bode would think of her as the CRC’s first woman to serve as chaplaincy director.

“I wondered what he thought of a young female taking the helm of the ship that he had guided over the years. But my fears were soon dismissed when I saw Hal walk up with a kind, genuine smile on his face and a warm handshake in greeting,” she said.

They talked that day about the growing ministry of chaplaincy. They also met on a couple of other occasions.

“Hal loved chaplaincy and CRC chaplains. Hal was passionate as he advocated for chaplains’ well-being,” she said. “I was struck by his vast wealth of institutional knowledge of the CRC and chaplaincy. During our encounters over the spring and summer, Hal was so encouraging and ready to share the wisdom that he had gained over the years.”

Born as the youngest of six children to Garrit and Margaret Bode, farmers near McBain, Mich., Harold (Hal) Bode graduated from Calvin College in 1951 and from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1954.

After being ordained, he served two congregations in the Midwest and then became a chaplain in the United States Air Force in 1962. He served at a number of posts throughout the U.S., the Philippines, Thailand, and Greenland.

After his first wife, Mary Francis Brussee Bode, died from cancer in 1973, Hal left the military and was appointed by the Christian Reformed Church synod to become the first full-time director and developer of chaplaincy for the denomination.

He served in that position until he retired in 1994.

“Harold Bode loved chaplaincy ministry, and he devoted his time, wisdom, and knowledge of this special ministry to make chaplaincy ministry an important part of the Christian Reformed Church,” said Rev. Herman Keizer, who served as chaplaincy director from 2002 to 2008.

Over the years, Keizer said, Bode’s accomplishments were many.

“He made the ministry of chaplains a valued part of the CRCNA by being an advocate for chaplains and their ministry,” said Keizer.

Bode convinced the denomination to pay chaplains’ pensions, especially for those chaplains who had left chaplaincy before being eligible for their employee pensions.

“He was a churchman who understood the inner workings of the denomination’s agencies. He also urged chaplains to remain connected with the church by attending a local CRCNA congregation, when possible, and going to classis and synod.”

Bode began an annual tradition of holding a chaplain’s retreat that draws chaplains together from military, healthcare, and workplace settings for a time of education, fellowship, and prayer.

“This conference became home for many of us,” said Keizer.

Meanwhile, Bode also worked hard with the professional organizations that certified and trained chaplains.

“The names of these groups are the alphabet soup of the national chaplain’s groups. He put our small denomination as a major player on the national map. That reputation was solidified by the performance of CRCNA chaplains in military and civilian chaplaincy both here and in Canada,” Keizer added.

Besides all of this, said Keizer, Bode successfully recruited chaplains and was a chaplain/pastor to the chaplains, offering them spiritual support, pastoral care, and advice. This he extended not only to CRCNA chaplains but also to many of those in other Reformed churches.

“Most important was his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” said Keizer.

“Christ wrapped Hal in his comforting Spirit during many losses: the death of his first wife, Mary; the reduction in Armed Forces after Vietnam that ended his active time in the Air Force. . . . The struggle for the CRCNA to understand the mission and function of the chaplain.”

Bode is survived by his wife, Helen, and their blended and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, at Calvin CRC (700 Ethel Ave. SE) with Rev. Jacob Heerema and Keizer officiating.

The family will greet friends and relatives on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 4-7 p.m. at Zaagman Memorial Chapel (2800 Burton St. SE) and for one hour prior to the service on Friday at Calvin CRC. Memorial gifts are designated to the Calvin Theological Seminary Student Assistance Fund.