Walter Frederick BETTS

BETTS, WALTER FREDERICK (WALLY) (b. Karimba, Vic, 9 Aug 1892; d. Melbourne, Vic, 1977). Methodist minister.

Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Betts, Walter was the fifth of six children in a nominally Anglican family. His mother sent the children to the Wesleyan Sunday school at Baulkamaugh South, which was very formative. At fourteen Betts left school to work on the family farm as well as taking a lively part in the social life of the district. At eighteen he was converted through the ministry of the Rev G T Doherty (Wesleyan Methodist). The impact on his life was immediate and astonished his family. He became a Methodist local preacher and then began his ministerial education under the ministers of Wesley Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne—J H Cain and A McCallum. After initial doubts about his fruitfulness in ministry, he began to see changed lives and remained an ardent evangelist for the rest of his life. During this period he also experienced an infilling of the Holy Spirit which was very formative for his ministry. In 1917 he served in the Belmont circuit, before entering the army until 1919, which underlined for him the importance of preaching the gospel to the whole community. He served in the Moreland circuit after ordination and then in the Carlton Mission where evangelism and social service were effectively combined.

Betts was strongly influenced by Dr W H Fitchett (q.v.) and totally rejected the liberal approach to Scripture and theology, believing that they undermined the converting power of the gospel. In 1922 he married Ann Hirst of Belmont. They had four sons and one daughter before she died in 1943. He then married Sister Ethel Knox in 1945.

Betts served in the Noradjuha and Eaglehawk circuits before being appointed to the post of superintendent of the Fitzroy Mission in Melbourne in 1930. In serious decline and heavily in debt, the mission was transformed by Betts. The debt was cleared in 18 months and a vigorous ministry of evangelism and social service undertaken. Harry Dyer assisted as soloist in services. The Mission soon became known for its Saturday afternoon evangelistic 'drives' which drew on the energy and enthusiasm of Christian Endeavourers and others. Many lives were changed as a result. Exchanges between evangelists and their hearers were often taxing for the former, but gave many a formative experience of the cost of evangelism among the poor. Betts also ran Monday night services for derelict and unemployed men from 1930-54 and employed Sisters to serve poor families, providing simple nursing care, praying and evangelising among them. His direct approach, generosity and skill in dealing with interjectors gave him a unique repute, even though many of his ministerial colleagues regarded his theology as narrow. Conference released him for evangelism 1945-46.

He was increasingly concerned about the effect of liberalism in Methodism and joined the International Council of Christian Churches to show his disapproval of the ecumenism of those who supported the World Council of Churches. In 1953 he announced his resignation from the Methodist Church as from 31 March 1954 on the ground that he could no longer in conscience be associated with modern Methodism. He continued as 'an old-time Methodist': 19 out of 22 of his Fitzroy officebearers left with him, as did many of the congregation. They formed the People's Church in Kew which was opened in October 1957. He ministered until late 1966, when he retired in ill-health.

D Clarnette, Fifty years on fire for God (Melbourne, 1967)

SELECT WRITINGS:

Modern Methodism whither?: a challenge and a call, Melbourne : S. John Bacon, 1945

The inescapable consequences of neglect: the final message delivered. Adelaide : s.n., 1944

IAN BREWARD