This past week, popular preacher, recording artist and pastor, Donnie McClurkin, went on record to declare his deep disappointment with what he sees as pastoral abuses in the body of Christ. His comments has raised a legitimate question about abuse and excesses in the body of Christ and has brought attention to a topic that has largely been ignored in the church community.
In an article appearing in Essence this past week Pastor McCLurkin is quoted as saying:
"As pastors, we have to link arms and have bi-partisanships. The [Black] church has always been the face of the community. Now we have to take on the responsibility of becoming true servants to the people from all walks of life. I get so mad when I see these pimpin' preachers driving Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, flying around in their private jets, and making it seem like prosperity and money is the way of God when 90 percent of your congregation is on Section 8 or can't figure out how they are going to keep their lights on or feed their kids. I'm big on perception, and what would it look like for me to live so lavishly if the people in my church are struggling?" says Pastor McClurkin in the article."
In venting his frustration over the behavior of some in the church community, Pastor McCLurkin reveals his own humility and sense of service to God and God's people, by outlining his own relationship, financial and otherwise, with his church and his refusal to take revenue from a congregation that he has built from the ground up.
"I've done great in gospel music, and only a few of us have accomplished what I have, and guess what? I live in the 'hood, not some place on the outskirts of the 'hood. There ain't no gate around my house; I have a white fence because the people I pastor live in that community. I have one vehicle and it's not a Mercedes, it's a Lincoln Navigator. I don't receive a dime--not an Abraham Lincoln copper coin--and haven't for the last seven-and-a-half years because I'm okay." he tells Kenya Byrd of Essence Magazine.
As such, Pastor McCLurkin has become a model and an example for others to emulate. His mentality and actions, that places a greater emphasis on service than profit, can only be admired by all of those who love the Lord and are seeking to do his will to the best of their ability. Pastor McCLurkin makes it clear that he has options, but chooses to live a modest and humble lifestyle because that what God has called him to do.
If I wanted to buy a Phantom or Bentley I could and not hurt my pockets, but I'm okay with what I have. I can sing and work and I let all that money go back into the church so we can buy the delicatessen on the corner, or the house next door to make it state-of-the-art low income housing. We've trained our people to put their leaders on pedestals, and some people want to live vicariously through their pastor and say, "My pastor has this and he's on television and so on," but then what do you have? How have you prospered and grown? So when I hear other pastors say, "My people take care of me," I'm thinking, But you're supposed to be taking care of the people. I just don't get it.
What is best gleaned from the wisdom and honesty of Pastor McCLurkin is his healthy attitude about the church and who it belongs to. His "ecclesiology", which is worthy of our consideration, perhaps best represents what Christ had in mind when he gave pastors to the body of Christ in the first place.
I don't have a church, but I do have a church that I pastor. I can't name something the Donnie McClurkin Temple because the people do not belong to me and if they did that would mean I have slaves. I am simply a vessel to deliver God's word. At the end of the day, it's God's church, not mine. advises Pastor McCLurkin.
SOURCE: Gospel Today
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Unfortnately, Pastor McClurkin's assessment is true. I've been a first hand witness and while I do not have the mind of God, I would imgaine that He is not pleased. Thank God for the example shown by Pastor McClurkin.
I am so proud of Pastor McClurkin, he sounds like a pastor after God's own heart. I would be proud to be a member of the church he pastors. What he has stated about some pastors is very sad but so true. What about the members and how they are living? The cost of a bentley could buy someone a home. When God begins to clean house it will start in the house of God!
Whereas, I can commend Pastor McClurkin for not taking advantage of the church, every pastor has not made the money that he has made through his singing career. Some pastors need the church to "take care of them" i.e. help them to pay their living expenses. In the Living Bible, it reads that "the elder who preaches and teaches well should be paid well". The point is that every pastor that receives money from the church which they serve as pastor is not "pimping" the church. I believe the vast majority of African American pastors serve small churches and are not taking advantage of the people. Please don't indict all pastors because of the greed of a few.
I do agree with some of the topics that Pastor Mclurkin has taken, but I also know about the other side of that as well, I go to and worship at a church where the Pastor doesn't take anything and gives all his monetary finances from his God given job of teaching Theology.
I do understand that like all things people will be what they are and going to the BIG name churches mostly feed the attitudes of those who are without. I feel like my old school Pastor when I was a boy, he said "that God takes care of me", and quit His job, but today do you think that will be a realization. Not with this economy, men of the Gospel now dare to do that.
I do applaud Pastor for his stands, but others are also doing and sewing into their communities and churches and youth centers as well, and to God Be The Glory, for all is His and when we leave, we'll never be able to take any Phantom, Jet or Church building with us.
God Bless you Pastor and continue with what God has given you and Blesseth be your church and its people.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN Pastor McClurkin, I am studying the Word of God on this matter and this is confirmation. AMEN....I don't think it is a problem to have money from your passion like singing, acting, etc but my problem is when a member or even one who is not a member on the church roll but is a continous participant, supposelly coming into a place of refuge with believers that have been out into the world all week and coming into a sanctuary to regain strength and peace and love, one who gives from their heart every sunday and the preachers are taking it. There was an incident where a friend of mine was in finicial straits. I myself would had help her out but I did not have it, so she decided to call the church she was attending at the time. She had been going to this perdominelly African-American 'megachurch' here in Ga for about 6 months faithfully because she use to, on Mondays, excitelly tell us about the services and what the man of God preached about. She was not a member of the church but again she was faithful attending all the services which include the ones on the weekdays. She had been going there for about 7 months if I am not mistaken. And everytime she got paid,and I witness to this, she took out her tithes and offerings even when she knew that she could had easily use the money for other means. She has four children and her husband was not contributing due to issues of his own. He was abusive to her. But she still remain faithful. Well at this particularly time she needed only a certain amount of money, $100.00 dollars to be exact to help pay for rent and she decided to call the church to see if she can get help. Did you not know that they ask her questions because she put the call on speaker. 'WAS SHE A MEMBER? DID SHE PAY HER TITHES? THEY HAD TO LOOK AT THE BOOKS' and then they told her to call back. She call about four times AND RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL or they told her to call back later and the last call was a conversation with the head of the ministry that suppose to help people. She told her that since she was not a member of the church that she could not help her. I was floored. Now I know the needs are great but a person who faithfully went to church and paid her tithes and offerings? All because her name was not on the membership roll? But I bet that if she was in the "church click" or somebody the lady like they would had help the person they liked. She was devastated. And she was a new-born baby in Christ Jesus. She continue to go but was never the same and eventually left and last I talk with her, church was not in her vocabulary. But this pastor has a private jet, limo, etc. Again if it is from like books he wrote or etc than I believe that is his, but if was pay our money because of obedience according to the Word of God and what he teaches to his congreagation about tithes and offerings and we are not using those monies to help those who are in need or the repairing of churches etc, than I have a problem. Also, another issue is that they treat celebrities more better than the average folks. You are faithful to the church and if you are not a celebrity or someone in the 'circle' or someone political than the pastor will not do your funeral or baptism, etc. These celebrities may not even be members of the church or even go to church but they'll do whatever it takes. That is why I admire the ministry of Bishop Charles Blake and Bishop Ulmer. When I look at their church services or pictures of their congregation in magazines, the celebrities sit among the rest of the congregation and one do not see the congregation all over the celebrities. It is like a respect issue. Thank you Pastor McClurkin for those timely words that needed to be said. The trumpet has sounded. It is time to seek the Lord.
I tend to agree with the Rev about some people, however, I believe that a large majority of ministers are doing just what God wants them to do. Yes, it is true that some only see $$$$$ when they see ministry but many see Jesus and the necessity to fulfill the great commission.
Rev. Donnie has been blessed to have another source of income...If he took a salary from his congregation it would be sort of shameful. He chooses to drive a Navigator but I don't believe that he needs to sit in judgment of those who may have been blessed and choose to drive a Bentley, Maserati, Benz or the like.
Let's let God take care of those ministers who are "stealing in the name of the Lord" and pray mightily for those who we may not see or hear about, that if they get a salary at all, they spend it on their churches needs...trust me I know what I am talking about!
The problem I see with the "AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!" at the end of this article is that people seem to think that it is acceptable for athletes, movie stars, TV personalities, singers/rappers/musicians, and businessmen/women (mostly of the caucasian persuasion!) to live in beautiful homes, drive luxury vehicles, own yachts and jets, but definitely not the servants of the Lord.
Sounds a little twisted to me.
Lorraine Rose-Drayton
blrdaka@msn.com
Oh boy! this is awesome. listening to you, or hearing your mind Man of God, makes me love you the more. Yes; some preachers are a bit selfish, its only about what they gain, not about empowering others.
Bless you Pst Donnie!