Detroit Bishop Marvin Winans Under Fire After Scolding Church Member Over $1,200 Donation

DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Prominent pastor Bishop Marvin Winans of Detroit’s Perfecting Church is facing backlash after publicly scolding a church member who donated $1,200 during a fundraising service — instead of the $2,000 he had requested.

The incident, captured on livestream during the church’s “Day of Giving” on October 19, quickly went viral, sparking a debate online about pastoral behavior, church fundraising, and respect for congregants.

“That Ain’t What I Asked You to Do”

During the broadcast, longtime church member Roberta McCoy walked to the front of the congregation to present her offering.

“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 read aloud.

But as she spoke, Bishop Winans interrupted her, telling the congregation that she had not followed his instructions.

“Now that is only $1,200,” Winans said to the audience. “Y’all not listening to what I’m saying. If you have a thousand plus a thousand — that’s what I asked for.”

McCoy responded that she was still “working on getting the other $800,” but Winans pushed back, saying, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.”

The exchange prompted murmurs from churchgoers and spread quickly online, drawing millions of views on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms.

Winans Defends His Actions

Winans later spoke with ABC7 Detroit, insisting that the viral clip misrepresented his intentions.

“The whole church was giving, and it was our day of giving,” Winans said. “I was calling them by increments so everyone could come up in order. Someone gave out of order, and I corrected it. That’s all that was.”

He emphasized that he did not mean to embarrass McCoy but wanted to maintain order during the event.

The Church Member Responds

McCoy herself came forward to defend the pastor, saying she didn’t feel insulted by his comments.

“He absolutely did not rebuke me,” McCoy said. “There was a correction because Pastor gave instructions on the lines to get into.”

She added that Winans personally apologized to her after the service and that she has “been a member since 2013 and will continue to give.”

McCoy also revealed that she has received online threats since the video went viral, urging people to stop spreading negativity toward her church.

Background: Perfecting Church’s $23 Million Project

The “Day of Giving” event was part of an ongoing fundraising effort for Perfecting Church’s long-delayed $23 million cathedral project, which began two decades ago.

The 3,200-seat structure stalled in 2008 during the recession but resumed construction in August 2024, with plans to open in June 2026.

“We’ve been working continuously since restarting,” Winans said. “There have been slowdowns, but we’re making progress.”

The church’s 168,000-square-foot cathedral remains one of the largest private religious developments in Detroit.

Community Reactions

Reactions online have been divided — with some criticizing Winans for what they viewed as a public shaming, while others defended him for maintaining structure during a major church event.

Supporters say the moment was misunderstood, while critics argue that the exchange reflects a growing concern over transparency and tone in modern megachurch leadership.

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