Pastorale sorg aan oorlogsballinge: Petrus Postma se werk in Ceylon

Abstract

Petrus Postma het waardevolle en gewaardeerde pastorale sorg gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog in die Diyatalawa-kamp in Ceylon gelewer. Hy was die seun van die eerste predikant en eerste teologiese professor van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika, Dirk Postma. Hy was predikant van die Gereformeerde Kerk in Pretoria toe die Anglo- Boereoorlog uitbreek. President Paul Kruger was lidmaat van hierdie gemeente en Postma se verbintenis met hom was waarskynlik die rede waarom hy na die Diyatalawakamp in Ceylon verban is. Die oorlog het Postma se benadering tot pastorale bediening ingrypend beïnvloed. Hierdie artikel wil aantoon hoe ingrypend hierdie invloed was deur briewe, kerkraadsnotules, oorlogsdagboeke, preke en ander relevante bronne te raadpleeg. Sy pastorale sorg in die kamp het egter ná sewe maande feitlik tot stilstand gekom toe sy vrou by hom aangesluit en hy parool gekry het om elders te gaan woon. Die rede hiervoor word ook ondersoek.

Pastoral care for war exiles: the work of Petrus Postma in Ceylon

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.