A viral video from Detroit’s Perfecting Church, led by Bishop Marvin Winans, has ignited widespread backlash after showing the gospel legend publicly chastising a woman and her young son during a service, all over the amount of their offering.
The now-viral clip, filmed during a recent church service, shows a congregant named Roberta McCoy walking to the front of the sanctuary with her son to announce their contribution. McCoy says, in a steady but humble voice, that she is “sowing this seed of $1,000 plus $235” — a total of $1,235 — in faith and unity with the church’s vision.
Without hesitation, Bishop Winans interrupts.
“Now, that’s only $1,200,” he says.
“Y’all not listening to what I’m saying. If you have $1,000 plus $1,000—”
When McCoy responds softly, “Well, I’m going to work on the other $800,” Winans cuts her off:
“That ain’t what I asked you to do.”
The congregation falls silent. The clip, originally shared by a parishioner on social media, quickly made its way across platforms, amassing millions of views — and sparking a fierce debate about money, power, and public shaming in the modern church.
Stop Payment On That Check Right Now!
The online response was swift and emotional. Social media users flooded comment sections with outrage and disbelief, many calling the pastor’s behavior manipulative and un-Christlike.
“Stop payment on that check right now!” wrote @attorneysymoneredwine, echoing the sentiments of many viewers who felt McCoy was pressured and humiliated in a sacred space.
Another user, @_shayhemingway, put it more bluntly: “I would’ve snatched back my money so fast he would’ve gotten a paper cut.”
Others quoted scripture in defense of McCoy’s right to give freely.
“2 Corinthians 9:7 — Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,” one user, @alionsdenmark, posted. “His actions aren’t aligned with the Word of God.”
Several users pointed out the irony of a church known for its message of grace becoming the site of public humiliation.
“I’m actually sad seeing this,” another commenter wrote. “We need to wake up.”
A Growing Debate: Faith vs. Financial Pressure
The controversy surrounding Bishop Winans’ exchange with McCoy has reignited an old debate in American Christianity: how far is too far when it comes to financial giving in the church?
Experts in religious sociology note that “prosperity gospel” teachings — which link faith and financial giving to divine reward — have long blurred the line between spiritual encouragement and coercion.
“This moment captures a growing tension,” said one religious commentator. “For many Black congregations, giving is an act of community faith. But when it becomes public performance, it crosses into control. It’s not just about money — it’s about dignity.”
Perfecting Church, a megachurch in Detroit founded by Winans in 1989, has not publicly addressed the incident.
However, the backlash is already affecting the church’s reputation among younger, digitally engaged Christians who have grown increasingly wary of financial transparency and power dynamics in ministry.
A Viral Lesson in Faith and Accountability
The heart of the outrage lies not in the amount of money but in the tone of the exchange — a bishop speaking to a woman giving sacrificially, before her son, and in front of the congregation.
For many, it felt less like spiritual leadership and more like public shaming.
“Faith isn’t a transaction,” one user posted. “You can’t strong-arm someone into blessing you.”
Even among Winans’ supporters, some expressed discomfort, suggesting that moments like these could alienate believers rather than inspire them.
As the clip continues to circulate, it serves as a sobering reminder of the fragile balance between spiritual authority and humility — and the danger of forgetting that the pulpit, at its best, is a place of compassion, not command.
