Bishop Marvin Winans rebuke donation scandal
A video clip that has stirred widespread debate shows US Bishop Marvin Winans publicly confronting a woman and her son during a church fundraiser after they pledged $1,235 when he had requested $2,000. The incident reportedly occurred during a giving event at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan.
In the recording, the woman—identified in media reports as Roberta McCoy—approached the pulpit with her son and announced her donation amount. Bishop Winans interrupted her declaration and challenged the sum, remarking “that’s only twelve hundred dollars.” When the woman affirmed the amount, Winans rebuked her, insisting she was not adhering to the original request. He told her, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.”
When the woman attempted to explain that she would work on giving more later, Winans reportedly dismissed her response, telling the congregation she had failed to follow the directive. The clip concludes with murmurs in the congregation and visible discomfort around the moment.
The broadcast of this moment has sparked criticism online. Many viewers express discomfort with the public confrontation over a pledged donation amount. Some argue that the rebuke undermines congregants and could harm trust within the church. Others defend Winans, claiming that expectations for giving were clearly set in the fundraiser’s guidelines.
No official statement has yet been released by Bishop Winans or Perfecting Church to clarify the context or offer further explanation about the confrontation. The video’s circulation has intensified conversations about pastoral conduct, congregant dignity, and the boundaries of fundraising practices in religious settings.
