Pastor Marvin Winans recently went viral for appearing to shame a woman, Roberta McCoy, for contributing $1,200 when he asked for $2,000. The viral moment, occurred in front of his church community, even as the woman’s young son stood beside her. The bible is clear in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Moreover, $1200 is a lot of money. It should have been welcomed with glee. The moment struck me as wholly inappropriate and deeply disturbing.
Generally speaking, Black people can be a very generous people. We consistently give to our friends and family, to our churches and to institutions which we believe in. We give even when it hurts.
Data has consistently shown that despite the racial wealth gap, Black people give a greater share of the wealth than do counterparts. In a 2020 article for the Washington Post, personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary noted:
“Black donors don’t just give to the church. Their largesse generally falls into three categories: ‘Cornerstone’ (giving to higher education and the arts), ‘Kinship’ (donating to organizations serving the Black community) and ‘Sanctified’ (supporting Black churches).”
For this reason, pressure campaigns feel off. Black people will, especially to churches.
Next, the woman’s son was standing beside her? I’m curious what it felt like to the child to watch his pastor berate his mother in front of the congregation and the broader viewing audience?
To be clear, Marvin Winans has spoken out, offering an explanation of his intentions and purpose in raising the offering. McCoy, the woman in question, has similarly spoken out, noting she didn’t feel berated or humiliated. But how is the child? What did this moment, or the ensuing moments, feel like for him? And what message does this send to this child about how pastors interact with parishioners.
Finally, why was the offering broadcast in the first place? I always thought the purpose of broadcasting church was to share the gospel with the world. If this is true, the only portion that should be broadcasted is the sermon.
There is absolutely no need to showcase the offering call or even, the altar call. I’ve said before that those two components of church can be difficult. If you grew up in a church that was really heavy-handed or dogmatic, you could have a lot of fear around the altar call or appeals for money. In some places of worship, the altar call can be fear-based, leaving many to question where they stand with God. Similarly, the offering call can be rife with pressure campaigns and manipulation.
No one should have to put armor on to go to church. My prayer is that the Black church, including celebrity pastors, will be more sensitive to what these portions of service feel like for church-goers.
Regardless of the explanation Winans provided, people are going to watch that video and draw their own conclusions. We don’t know Winans’ intentions; and I think the church could avoid these kinds of things if they were more careful in how they raise offerings, and more selective in what is televised.
Jennifer R. Farmer is a crisis communications expert and founder Spotlight PR LLC. The firm helps clients build their platforms and protect their brands.