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Detroit’s Bishop Marvin Winans is facing intense public scrutiny after singling out a church member during a live worship event over what he deemed an insufficient donation.

The moment occurred during Perfecting Church’s annual “Day of Giving” on Oct. 19, where Winans reprimanded congregant Roberta McCoy for contributing $1,235 instead of the $2,000 he had instructed each member to give, as New York Post reports.

The exchange, caught on livestream, swiftly went viral and has since ignited a debate over religious leadership, expectations around giving, and the growing disconnect between church authority and individual worshippers.

Bishop Calls Out Donor Over Dollar Amount

During the event, Winans was organizing churchgoers by donation tiers, urging each to contribute $1,000 from their own funds and raise an additional $1,000. McCoy walked to the front to present her gift of $1,235, reading a heartfelt dedication to the congregation.

“I, Roberta McCoy, give in faith, and stand in unity with the vision of Perfecting Church,” she shared just before Winans cut her short. What should have been a reverent moment turned sharply when the bishop interrupted to correct her.

“Now that is only $1,200,” he told McCoy in front of the entire audience. “Y’all not listening to what I’m saying,” he added, signaling his frustration with what he saw as noncompliance with instructions.

Congregation Murmurs As Tension Mounts

McCoy tried to clarify that she was still working on obtaining the remaining amount, yet Winans dismissed the explanation with the curt reply, “That ain’t what I asked you to do.” Murmurs rippled through the audience, clearly unsettled by the interaction.

That awkward moment didn’t stay within the church walls. Once the video gained traction online, the incident quickly spread far beyond the pews of Perfecting Church, amassing millions of views and sparking conversations across various communities.

As digital outrage brewed, another twist emerged: a different churchgoer, unlike McCoy, demonstrated quiet defiance by announcing a ridiculously low donation of just $1.62, according to an ABC7 Detroit report.

Bishop Cites Organizational Needs, Not Personal Rebuke

Winans later clarified to ABC7 that his comments weren’t personal, explaining he was merely trying to avoid chaos as the congregation moved forward. “The whole church was coming, and we didn’t want people standing, the mothers and all that,” he claimed.

Describing McCoy’s donation as “out of order,” the bishop said he had to “correct it” and keep things on track. “I told everybody to listen and come when you call, and that’s all that was,” he added.

McCoy, for her part, took a gracious stance toward her pastor amid the fallout. She publicly stated that the bishop “absolutely did not rebuke me,” but rather corrected her based on a misunderstanding of the lineup structure.

Viral Clash Tied To Larger Church Project

The real context here may go beyond money and feelings. Winans made it clear the “Day of Giving” serves a key role in funding Perfecting Church's long-delayed cathedral project, a $23 million effort that has dragged on for two decades.

The 3,200-seat facility, intended as a spiritual centerpiece for the city, stalled in 2008 during the recession, leaving a partially constructed 168,000-square-foot frame to gather dust and city complaints for 15 years.

Pressure mounted in 2023, when Detroit officials took legal action, labeling the site a public blight. Only then did construction resume after church leaders reworked their plan, with an eye toward completion in mid-2026.

Clarifications Offer Grace In The Aftermath

After the church service, Winans reportedly offered a personal apology to McCoy, which she accepted. Still, the damage was largely done online, where threats and attacks against her began to build in the social media feeding frenzy.

McCoy, unfazed by the criticism, affirmed she’s been part of Perfecting Church since 2013 and has no intention of leaving or ceasing her support. While the Internet dissects clips, she’s choosing to stay focused on the broader vision.

As for Winans, his brief correction may have cost more than it raised. In an age where image can dethrone the pulpit, pastors must perhaps think twice before addressing wallets mid-sermon.