Abstract

FICK, Rikus. Pastoral care for war exiles: The work of Petrus Postma in Ceylon. Studia Hist. Ecc. [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.1, pp.1-11. ISSN 2412-4265.

Petrus Postma rendered esteemed and valuable work as pastor during the Anglo-Boer War in the Diyatalawa Camp in Ceylon. He was the son of the first pastor and first professor of theology of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, Dirk Postma. He was the pastor of the Reformed Church in Pretoria at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. President Paul Kruger was a member of this congregation and Postma's association with him was apparently the reason why he was exiled to Ceylon. The war had a profound influence on Postma's approach to pastoral care. This article intends to show how profound this influence was by looking at letters, minutes of church councils, war diaries and several other relevant sources. His pastoral care in the camp all but ceased after seven months when his wife arrived in Ceylon and he was granted parole to live elsewhere. The reason for this is explored.

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