NEED TO KNOW
- Marvin Winans, a pastor in Detroit, went viral after a video highlighted an interaction with a woman about her $1,235 donation
- Now, they’re both speaking out about the incident, which they say was misrepresented by the social media post
- The church member said the pastor personally apologized following the incident
A Detroit pastor was criticized after a viral video captured a moment between him and a congregation member making a $1,235 donation. Now, both the church leader and congregant say the post misrepresented what happened.
In the clip, Marvin Winans, a senior pastor at Perfecting Church, was seen at the pulpit as a woman gave him a donation at the Day of Giving service on Sunday, Oct. 19.
“I, Roberta McCoy, give in faith, and stand in unity with the vision of Perfecting Church with sowing this seed of $1,000, plus $235 in receiving the blessings to come to all that participate,” she said in the clip, which has more than 7 million views on X,
“Now, that’s only $1,200,” Winans replied.
“Y’all not listening to what I’m saying,” he continued, pointing out that he had asked for donations “if you have $1,000, plus $1,000.”
McCoy responded that she’ll “work on the other $800,” as the pastor replied, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.”
Alongside the video, the social media user described the pastor as “criticizing a woman and her son in front of the entire church for donating $1,200 instead of $2,000 during a fundraiser.”
However, in an interview published the next day by ABC affiliate WXYZ, both McCoy and Winans denied that characterization.
During the fundraising service, church members were asked to give $1,000 and raise another $1,000 to help complete the new sanctuary, as well as support the community, according to the outlet. The pastor had asked donors giving $2,000 or more to step up to the line first, but that’s not what McCoy did.
“He absolutely did not rebuke me,” McCoy, who has been a member of Perfecting Church since 2013, told the outlet. “There was a correction because let me clearly state that pastor gave instruction on the lines to get into.”
The pastor also spoke with WXYZ, explaining that it was a large event and he was only trying to keep things organized and comfortable for his congregants.
“And we had someone that had given out of before, and I corrected it,” the pastor added, “and I told everybody to listen and come when you call, and that’s all that was.”
McCoy went on to say that Winans personally apologized after the interaction.
Pastor Marvin Winans.
Raymond Boyd/Getty
Winans is the founder of Perfecting Chruch, and won five Grammy awards while performing with the family gospel group, The Winans, according to the church website.
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In 2023, the pastor faced another backlash after he was sued by the city of Detroit because a new sanctuary on Woodward Avenue had remained unfinished for years, FOX affiliate WJBK reported at the time.
Perfecting Church did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
