April 27, 2010

The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) presented its 2010 Distinguished Service Award to Chaplain (Col) Herman Keizer, Jr., who recently retired as director of chaplaincy for the Christian Reformed Church.

This award is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of significant contributions in promoting standards of professional chaplaincy or in the advancement of clinical chaplaincy. It was presented to Keizer during the 2010 APC's Annual Conference in Schaumburg, Ill.

The APC noted that Keizer had a distinguished 34-year career as a chaplain in the Armed Services and spent two more years serving the U.S. State Department. Commissioned as a chaplain in 1968, his assignments included deputy director of the Chaplaincy Service Support Agency and later executive director, Armed Forces Chaplains Board, Department of Defense in Washington, DC; command chaplain, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany; and military assistant to the ambassador at-large for international religious freedom.

In accepting the award, Keizer said, "I have dedicated my entire ordained ministry of 42 years to ensuring that chaplains maintain professional competence by keeping current, proficient, and rooted in their faith community. I believe that competence is a moral and ethical imperative for professional chaplains."

During the 1990s, when Keizer was command chaplain of the United States European Command, his leadership led to the establishment of chaplains in Central European nations, the forging of cooperation between chaplains in the North American Treaty Organizations and three highly successful European–North American chiefs of military chaplains conferences.

"I have tremendous respect for how God works in this world," Keizer says. "As part of my European command, I worked to re-establish chaplaincy in countries of the former Soviet Union. If you had told me early in my career that I would stand in uniform in Red Square without having fought a war, I never would have believed it."

After retiring from the Army in 2002, Keizer served as director of chaplaincy ministry for the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) until March, 2009. As director of around 100 CRC chaplains in a variety of settings, Keizer worked hard to be a chaplain to them and their families. He also worked tirelessly to tell their stories and to advocate for them to be recognized as being on par with other ministers.

Keizer received a master's in sacred theology from New York Theological Seminary; a master's in education from Columbia University Teacher's College; and completed course work and certification from Columbia University Teacher's College for a doctorate in education. He was ordained as a minister in the Christian Reformed Church in 1968.

Keizer's awards include the Superior Honor Award from the United States Department of State. He received 45 decorations from the military, including the Purple Heart. He was called out of retirement three times to continue serving his church and nation.

APC is a multifaith nonprofit organization of chaplaincy care providers endorsed by faith groups to serve persons in need, respecting their individual cultures and beliefs, in diverse settings throughout the world.

The association seeks to promote excellence in chaplaincy care through education, research, standards of practice, support of members and by promoting public support for professional chaplaincy. It also certifies chaplains according to established national standards through its affiliate, the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. APC has about 4,000 members, including professional April 23, chaplains serving persons in spiritual need in diverse specialized ministry settings throughout the world, such as hospitals, long-term care, hospice, correctional institutions, the military and mental health. APC members represent more than 150 faith groups.

For additional information, visit http://www.professionalchaplains.org/.

Association of Professional Chaplains