What's next for Bishop Marvin Winans and Perfecting Church after Roberta McCoy's public 'correction' and viral donation controversy?

Photo: (left) Bishop Marvin Winans, (right) Roberta McCoy, Church member of Perfecting Church

Bishop Marvin Winans and church member, Roberta McCoy, have publicly addressed the now-viral video involving a $1,200 donation moment at Perfecting Church, providing clarity in what both now describe as a "misunderstanding."

The incident, which ignited widespread online criticism, surfaced amid renewed scrutiny over Winans’ fundraising efforts and the decades-long construction delays surrounding the church’s massive Woodward Avenue campus.

Viral Moment Sparks National Debate

The controversy began when a video clip circulated on social media showing Bishop Winans redirecting McCoy during a worship service after she joined what appeared to be a specific donation line, reportedly reserved for pledges at a certain tier.

The clip prompted immediate backlash online, with critics accusing Winans of being dismissive, arrogant, and insensitive in a time of economic hardship for many Americans.

Church Member Says It Was a "Misunderstanding"

In an interview with ABC 7 Detroit, Roberta McCoy, a Perfecting Church member since 2013, stated that she had mistakenly entered the wrong line but was not 'rebuked,' as many assumed.

"It was a misunderstanding," McCoy reported. "Bishop Winans corrected me, but I did not feel disrespected or hurt by it."

She also shared that following the viral reaction, she faced online criticism and personal attacks with some criticizing her for simply being in the wrong line.

McCoy added that Bishop Winans has since apologized to her personally, and she plans to remain a member and continue supporting the ministry.

Timing of the Controversy Draws Attention to Church’s Financial History

The incident has amplified pre-existing conversations around Perfecting Church’s fundraising efforts, especially in relation to its highly visible yet unfinished megachurch campus located at Woodward Avenue and Seven Mile, which has been under construction for nearly 20 years.

A Two-Decade Construction Journey

Construction on the Perfecting Church campus began around 2004, after the church received initial planning approvals. By 2006, the ministry secured a $49 million construction loan to advance development on what was envisioned as a sprawling worship center.

However, the Great Recession struck soon after.

According to Damon Tooles of Tooles Contracting Group, the church’s lender exercised a clause allowing the loan to be called due in the event of a financial crisis. The church paid approximately $13 million to settle the loan and subsequently halted the project, which has remained largely inactive since.

During this time, overgrown vegetation and structural stagnation led to accusations of blight, raising community concerns about the church’s stewardship of the land.

Legal Action from the City of Detroit

In 2023, the City of Detroit filed a lawsuit against Bishop Winans and Perfecting Church, alleging that the property had deteriorated into a public nuisance and had not received a building permit since July 2015. The lawsuit required Winans to address blight and meet specified deadlines or risk forfeiture of the property.

City officials emphasized that their goal was not to strip the church of ownership, but rather to ensure forward progress.

The case was eventually dismissed after both parties reached an agreement, requiring Perfecting Church to provide proof of financing and secure renewed city approvals before restarting construction.

City Council Approves New Project Plan

In September 2025, the Detroit City Council approved Perfecting Church’s revised rezoning request, allowing the ministry to move forward with updated development plans.

Construction is expected to resume, pending final permit approval, with a projected completion date of March 2026, according to church CEO Cindy Flowers.

Community Reactions and the Road Ahead

The viral clip raises new, but important, questions about the culture of giving at church.

In an effort to mitigate public scrutiny, some have argued that churches should no longer livestream giving; however, the lack of visibility does not erase financial accountability and the perceived lack of respect that some church leaders have for their members. Moreover, in the age of cellphones and their ubiquity, there should always be a presumption of being recorded.

The viral video at Perfecting Church and its overwhelming negative response simply reflect the public's growing disdain for church and church leaders.

Through viral moments of this kind, the public has come to associate church with messiness: quick tempered church leaders, over-emphasize on money and financial giving, and a general lack of reverence and respect for the body of Christ.

Whether its reasonable or not, people expect churches and church leaders to lead with love, model loving interactions, and promote kindness and love- at all times.

Although McCoy’s public defense of Bishop Winans has eased some tensions, all eyes remain on Bishop Winans and Perfecting Church- both for how they steward the next phase of their ministry expansion and for how they help to rebuild public trust after intense scrutiny.

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