Gospel mainstay, Pastor Marvin Winans, is facing widespread backlash after video footage from Detroit’s Perfecting Church showed him scolding a member during the congregation’s annual “Day of Giving.”
According to Blavity (via Yahoo! News), the service, held on Sunday, October 19, was meant to raise funds for a long-standing church building project on 7 Mile and Woodward that has been under construction since 2002.
Winans, who founded Perfecting Church in 1989, repeatedly asked members to contribute “$1,000 plus 1.”
The phrasing created confusion in the room. Some interpreted it as two separate $1,000 donations. Others believed the pastor was asking for $1,001. One woman, stepping forward with her offering, presented $1,235. She addressed the congregation, saying, “I’m giving in faith and standing in unity with the vision of Perfecting Church, sowing this seed of $1,000 plus $235 and receiving the blessings to come.”
Instead of accepting her contribution, Winans corrected her in front of the congregation. “That’s only $1,200,” he said. When the woman acknowledged that she had fallen short of what he asked, Winans pressed further: “You’re not listening to what I’m saying. If you have $1,000 plus $1,000…”
The woman promised to bring the remaining $800 later, but Winans responded, “Well, that ain’t what I asked you to do.”
Clips of the exchange circulated quickly online, sparking criticism of the pastor’s handling of the moment.
One attendee wrote on Threads, “Today at Perfecting Church of Detroit, Bishop Marvin Winans scolded a member for giving $1,200 instead of $2,000. This was a fundraising service for a new building on 7 Mile and Woodward that has been under construction since 2002. There are layoffs and business closings happening weekly, but this is the attitude of so many pastors.”
Another social media user added, “‘One thousand PLUS one thousand.’ Just say $2,000 then, and people wouldn’t have an opportunity to mishear.”
As of this writing, neither Winans nor representatives from Perfecting Church have issued a public statement addressing the backlash.