Controversy Erupts Over Pastor’s Fundraising Remarks

A video featuring Marvin Winans, the Grammy Award-winning singer and pastor of Perfecting Church in Detroit, has surfaced, showing him reprimanding church members for not meeting their $1,200 fundraising target. The incident, which has sparked quite a bit of debate, unfolded during a church meeting.

Winans, addressing church member Roberta McCoy, pointed out that the collective donations had fallen short of their $2,000 goal. Despite McCoy and her son contributing $1,000 and attempting to raise an additional $200, the pastor felt compelled to underscore the importance of reaching the target. “It’s only $1,200,” he said, trying to clarify his point. McCoy agreed but was met with Winans insisting, “Guys, you’re not listening to me.” He seemed to emphasize that if they raised 1,000 plus another 1,000, they would be on track.

In response, McCoy mentioned that she would “work on the remaining 800 cars,” to which Winans quickly interjected, clarifying, “That’s not what I asked you to do,” provoking some laughter from the congregation.

Later, in an interview with WXYZ-TV Detroit, Winans addressed the situation, claiming that it was a misunderstanding. He explained that the church was collectively giving, and he wanted to ensure everyone participated effectively—especially the mothers in attendance. “We didn’t want people standing around,” he noted.

McCoy, a church member since 2013, revealed that Winans apologized directly to her, denying anything about reprimanding her. Instead, she felt she was simply “corrected” for her timing.

This isn’t the first time Winans has made headlines; back in 2018, he faced a lawsuit from a former housekeeper who alleged she was fired for not paying tithes. This legal matter was resolved in 2021, with both parties agreeing to bear their own costs.