Pastoral Excesses and Abuse
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.
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.
Comment
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Comment by Minister T on May 14, 2009 at 11:10am
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Amen, Lady Stallings!!
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Comment by John on May 14, 2009 at 10:59am
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Elder Williams as you say, "sowing and reaping in to the ministry" but not in to the pockets, because the Lord is not one's Prostitute and you can believe those that take this approach will certainly REAP their just rewards! You can't store rewards on earth, it will be no more but your rewards that are stored in heaven, will be there. God bless.
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Bishop Mallory that's what I'm talking about! If you are TRULY called, the Lord will find a way for you. Bless you man of God.
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To me, preaching is a call. I have and had a job. My blessing was being called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe Pastor McClurkin job is being a singer and his call is being a preacher. If he is doing ministry full time, I believe that he should be paid. If he keeps the money or not, is up to him. But we need to avoid exces.
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Minister T, I thank you for you kind words of calling me a Pastor but I am but a layman that has loved the Lord all my life though there were times I just didn't understand what it meant because my mind hadn't been renewed nor my character to that of Christ-like. I just love His Word and will defend it (though He needs no defending) because I am zealous of His Word and don't care if it's the Pope, I will state what lines up with God and not what lines up with man no matter what title they have nor how high minded they may be. God bless you.
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Pastor John;
I agree!! What is the compensation for doing the work of God? What happen to what He gives freely (His Word) we should also give freely. When did it get to the point that a preacher should be compensated for the Word, that is God? These Prosperity Messages has reduced the word down to one word, money! No one is saying that a preacher should not be compensated, the issues is the excess. Pastor John also has a profound point; just because you receive money doesn't mean that you are blessed. It is what you do with the money. The love of it... is the root... of evil!! I think some preachers roots are showing.
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Brother Chad if the servant can't focus on ministry without being paid maybe they weren't called is all I'm saying. To me (and just to me), ministering is not a JOB and if one looks at it as so then maybe they need to rethink that so they can see it is a BLESSING instead. And please let no one take what I say as a direct or disrespect to them. Trust me I can recognize Prosperity Pastors because they stick out like sore thumbs and my Lord told me in Matthew 24 what to look for when they come. I just listen to the word they say and if it don't line up with my God's Word then I know if they were called or not. God bless all.
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Comment by Bishop R.G.Mallory on May 14, 2009 at 10:36am
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I agree with Pastor Mclurkin in that we are servants and should maintain that posture; However while I may sing I wont make a dime singing..so that seperates him from me, Paul did say If I preach the Gospel I should live of the Gospel. I dont have to have a mercedes or fenced house I dont want to live above and beyond my members but I can live of the Gospel I preach. Im not pimpin and certainly not preaching for money thats why I have a 9-5 Job cause I cant wait on a offering I got to know what my pay is and when its coming through.
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Comment by Chad A. White on May 14, 2009 at 10:35am
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John I am not suggesting that the peracher/pastor put a price on the word. But i am saying that the word teaches that the pasor shoud be free to focus on the work of the ministry. It is interesting that we meet people who say they were called or led by God to go into certain professions yet they still want to get paid. But the preacher/pastor should not want to live a fiancially blessed life because he was called. I am not advocating excess such as multiple private jets and 5 or 6 houses. But i do beleive that word advocates the church take care of the pastor financailly so that he is able to focus on ministry.
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Let's also remember that just because you receive money does not necessarily mean it is a blessing. We get tested by the Lord also. What are you doing with this so called blessing? Is it just for you or are you doing what should be done as a servant of the Lord? We have a tendancy to think of money as a blessing all the time. It is a curse also. If you are hoarding this so called blessing it is not a blessing to me but a curse because there is another in you congregation coming to be fed the Word and all they are fed is nonsense and lies of prosperity.
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