Bishop Marvin Winans and long-time congregant Roberta McCoy have moved to calm a storm ignited by a short viral clip that split social media on Sunday.
In an interview with ABC7, both McCoy and Bishop Winans set out their versions of events after the clip, which showed McCoy stepping forward with her young son and two white envelopes, prompted accusations that the bishop had publicly rebuked her over the amount offered.
“He absolutely did not ‘rebuke’ me. Now there’s a difference; there was a correction. Because let me clearly state that the pastor gave instruction on the lines to get into,” she said.
Bishop Winans said his remarks were part of crowd management on the church’s designated Day of Giving. He told ABC7 that the purpose was to keep members, including mothers and the elderly, from having to stand for long periods, and that donations were being taken in scheduled increments.
Pastor Marvin Winans and church member Roberta McCoy are both speaking out following a viral video from a church fundraising event: pic.twitter.com/0ZqPgbwJOf
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 22, 2025
“I was calling because the whole church was giving, and it was our day of giving, and the whole church was coming, and we didn’t want people standing, the mothers and all that, so I was calling them by increments,” he explained.
Winans added that he had corrected another member who had given outside the established order, a moment that did not appear in the viral footage.
“And we had someone that had given out of before, and I corrected it, and I told everybody to listen and come when you’re called, and that’s all that was,” he said.
McCoy said the bishop apologised after the exchange and stressed that she remains a committed member of the Perfecting Church, where she has worshipped for thirteen years.
In the video that sparked debate she can be heard reading her offering aloud: “I, Roberta McQueen, give in faith and outstanding unity for the vision of Perfecting Church, sowing this seed of Sh129,200 ($1,000) plus Sh30,232 ($234) to receive the blessings to come.”
The clip then captures Winans responding, “But this is $1,200 (Sh154,980). You are not listening to what I am saying. I said if you have a thousand and another thousand.”
Taken aback, McCoy immediately offered to bring the remainder later, promising she would deliver the balance of $800 (Sh103,360).
The bishop maintained that this was not the instruction he had given.
Gospel singer Fred Hammond urged the public to hear the full conversation before rushing to judgment, a reminder of how quickly short, out-of-context clips can inflame opinion. B
oth McCoy and Winans appeared on camera to restore perspective: she to insist she was not wronged, and he to explain that his priority was order and care for the congregation during a large, organised offering.