Donnie McClurkin Disgusted with Pastoral Excesses and Abusesed
by Bishop Andy er, D. Min. on March 29, 2009 at 1:00am w Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.'s blog

Pastor Donnie Mcclurkin
Perfecting Church, Freeport , New York

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. Pastor McCLurkin
goes on to say..

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.

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Comment by Micah RaSun-Vann on May 14, 2009 at 11:52pm
Without understanding have pastors done so. In these last days pastors need to be covered in prayer and they need the voice of the prophet. It's critical. Not the money prophesying prophets but the true prophets.

We are all in need of prayer 24/7 but these three groups desperately need our prayers. We should pray without ceasing for:

No. 1 - The Lost - the enemy is taking them out at lightening speed before they receive salvation (murder, suicide, freak accidents).

No. 2 - The Pastors - the enemy desires the lives of the faithful pastors to get at the sheep. He is especially after those who have sat under these types of ministries who may have never received salvation but have pastor's religion to take them in their deceived state. He is also targetting the lives of the defected pastors before they get a chance to repent.

No. 3 - The Prophets - TO SILENCE THEM!!!

May we continue to sound the alarm,speak the truth and pray. We thank God for voices of the BPN ministry gifts.
Comment by Minister T on May 14, 2009 at 10:39pm
Micah RaSun-Vann, I believe that you have uncovered what may be one of the problems. We forgot that the pastor is 1/5 of the ministry gifts. God called us (at least me) into a five fold ministry. We have elevated the office of pastor in the ministry that it has become an idol. Many pastors do not feel that they should be accountable. We in the fold also excuse away their behavior. The Holy Spirit is grieved and we can no longer make excuses for looking the other way. The Bride of Christ must get ready for the Bridegroom.
Comment by Micah RaSun-Vann on May 14, 2009 at 10:20pm
The Holy Spirit is grieved. How quickly we skip the great commission to race to 1 Timothy 1:17-18.

Many forget that the pastor is 1/5 of the ministry gifts and not The Gift. When pastors set themselves apart then they hinder the move of God. They become an idol to themselves. For God created a holistic design for the building and functioning of the church. When the pastor wont heed the apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher they lose their accountability structures and answer only to themselves and it is this behavior that has led to the abuse now so rampant in the church. Pastor refuse to be held accountable for their actions excusing away obvious abuses and misuses of scripture.

No bible reading and believing student would dispute that pastors are worthy of their hire but wise discerning sheep know the difference between a shepherd and a hireling, a shepherd and a pimp, a shepherd and a wolve, a shepherd and a tyrant, a shepherd and an spiritually/emotionally abusive leader. Even the weak minded have a inner knowing that something is not quite right but are not able to clearly see. I thank Donnie for his boldness and his choice.
Comment by John on May 14, 2009 at 9:32pm
Brother Prince, I'm not known as one to shy away from my comments. But your post is typical of false understandings, comparisons and ignorance in the churches. Don't focus on the man but the creator who commanded his ministers to do His work. That's definitely Charimatic wrong teaching and attitude. That's the problem with the sheep, they've been told not to concentrate on the minister but at the same time the minister isn't telling them the truth about God either. You need to understand who Malachi is speaking to in the OT and it's not the church nor the Gentiles. Are you of the Children of Israel? Now show me PLEASE where God said He wants his servant so be rich. I know where He said your rewards are in heaven, but show me where He said your rewards are on earth. Never mind, YOU CAN'T! The minister if he is of God will get support because our Lord takes care of His own. It's this kind of thinking that has the sheep following ravenous wolves in sheep clothing leading them to slaughter and the lake of fire.
Comment by Minister T on May 14, 2009 at 6:08pm
Where is our accountability as preachers, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Comment by Minister T on May 14, 2009 at 5:41pm
I don't think itis jealousy to speak out against Preacheres excess and abuse. I believe that we should do it in the spirit of love to help them line up with the word. How many cars and jets do one preacher need?
Comment by John on May 14, 2009 at 2:18pm
Sister Gardner, Amen and I hear what you say. You know God also says His Word is of no private interpretation. Therefore we can not put the leaders of any church on a pedesal and think it is them who feeds us only. We should be in God's Word everyday and let the Spirit feed us also. IT is our personal responsibility to read and study His Word. If we are true His Spirit will teach and guide us in His Word. We don't have to dust of our bibles on Sunday to go open the Holy Book and then put it down in that familiar place Sunday evening until next Sunday morning. We're not going to be able to stand before Him and say it was the ministers fault for not telling me correctly. We're not going to be able to stand bfore Him and say it was the ministers fault for giving me wrong doctrine. It will be our fault for listening to man who is a liar rather than God Who is always truthful.

2Timothy3:16 says, All scripture is given by inspriation of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Why?

2Timothy3:17, That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.
Comment by GOD'S APOSTOLIC AMBASSADORS on May 14, 2009 at 1:14pm
SAINTS; PLEASE PARDON & EXCUSE THAT PREVIOUS BLOG COMMENT; HEAVY STORMS IN MY AREA. AND COMPUTER CRASHED ,BEFORE I COULD COMPLETE MY COMMENTS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DELETE THE ERROR, OR TO CORRECT MY TYPE O'S; I DO APOLOGIZE.

I STARTED; I THANK MIN. T FOR POSTING THAT BLOG; IT IS TIME THE CHURCH WAKE UP, AND WALK IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD. THERE IS ABSOLUTLEY NO FEAR OF THE LORD, TO MANY. MANY WALK AROUND AS IF THEY KEEP THEMSELVES, MANY ACT AS IF THEIR OWN SOULS ARE IN THEIR HANDS. WOW! I AM APPALLED AT MANY OF TODAY'S LEADERS. "PRIDE GOETH BEFORE DESTRUCTION & A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL" THE OUTSIDE WORLD WILL NOT COME TO CHRIST, DUE TO CHURCH LEADER'S BEHAVIOURS, AS MINISTER'S OF THE GOOD NEWS!

I ONCE LIVED IN NY, FREEPORT; A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM PASTOR'S DONNIE'S CHURCH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNIY TO MEET HIM IN PERSON, IT WAS HIS ANOUNCEMENT ON BECOME A PASTOR AS GOD ORDAINED, IT WAS A GLORIOUS EVENING IN THE LORD. PASTOR DONNIE HAS GROWN AND HAS COME A LONG WAY IN THE LORD. I DO SALUTE HIM FOR HIS STAND;MOST OF US CHRISTAINS ARE AFRAID OF OPENING OUR MOUTHS AGAINST IN- JUSTICE

I HAVE HEARD GOD PERSONALLY AND CLEARLY, WITH DISTINCTION, A FEW DAYS AGO, AS HE SPOKE TO ME; !HE IS DISPLEASED WITH HIS CHURCH, AND HE COMES TO BRING JUDGMENT!. MANY LEADERS WILL FALL THIS YEAR, AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM OFF THE THRONE, EVEN AS SAUL WAS REMOVED; !!mmmm! DUE TO THEIR WICKEDNESS & PROSTITUTION OF HIS GOSPEL.!BE NOT SURPRISED!

!WOE BE UNTO THE SHEPHERDS WHO SCATTER MY FLOCK, WHO GOETH NOT AFTER THEM TO FEED THEM WITH MY WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE &UNDERSTANDING; ! WOE BE UNTO THOSE WHO EAT THE BEST & THEN FEED MY PEOPLE OF WHAT IS LEFT FROM UNDER THIER FEET.!!!

SAINTS, I TELL YOU TRUTHFULLY FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD, MANY WILL SEE A GREAT FINANCIAL LOSS OF ALLTHOSE WHO WALK IN RICHES & WEALTH, AND THOSE WHO ARE LOVERS OF MONEY, MORE THAN LOVERS OF SOULS; WHICH IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL; AND MANY WILL SEE A GREAT LOSS OF LIVES IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES. THERE WILL BE SUCH A CRY THROUGH OUT THE LAND & SUCH AN AWE, FEAR AND WONDER, AS GOD MOVES UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH TO BRING DOWN, TO TEAR UP & TO DESTROY ALL WHO OPPPOSE HIS VERY WILL & COMMAND FOR SOULS. JUDGMENT BEGINS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.!
SO SAINTS I SUBMIT TO YOU TODAY, SET YOUR HOUSES IN ORDER, CLEAN UP YOUR HOUSES, WASH YOUR SELVES AND BE CLEAN, PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, AND WALK IN REVERENCE UNTO HIM REPENT! PREPARE YE HE AY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATH STRAIGHT!!!!! FEAR YE HIM, WHO IS ABLE TO DESTROY OUR SOULS" THERE IS NO TIME TO BEHAVE UN-SEEMINGLY, THERE IS NOTIME TO IGNORE THE WARNINGS OF THE LORD, THERE IS NO TIME TO ARGUE ABOUT WHO IS RIGHT OR WHO IS WRONG,OR WHO KNOWS MORE SCRIPTURES, THAN WHO; THERE IS NO TIME TO SIT BY COMPLACENTLY & SHUN HIS WORD AS HE COMES FORTH TO CHANGE ALL, HIS WAY, FOR HIS GLORY, AND ALL FLESH SHALL HEAR AND SEE, THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD WHEN HE COMES TO CORRECT.

I AM PRAYING OF OUR LEADERS TO GET IT RIGHT .LET US ALL PRAY FERVNTLY: MEN OUGHT TO PRAY EVERYWHERE, FOR OUR LEADERS.!
LOVE AN DPEACE TO ALL.

IN HIS SERVICE,
HIS SERVANT ON ASSIGNMENT
Comment by Minister T on May 14, 2009 at 12:53pm
I agree with your powerful words, Prophetess Gardner. The judgement of the Lord will start with the House of God. We act as if God is not watching.
Comment by John on May 14, 2009 at 11:22am
Preach and teach Lady K. All I can say is AMEN! OK, I can never just say that all the time. LOL If claiming to come or speak in the name of the Lord and it's a lie, then you are either adding or taking away from His Word and if Deutoronomy 18:20 - 22 and Revelations 22:18 - 19 don't scare you then more power to you. I know it scares me!

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