Declining Attendance in Black Churches

 The Marvin Winans Incident 

During a "Day of Giving" event at Detroit's Perfecting Church in October 2025, Bishop Marvin Winans criticized congregant Roberta McCoy for donating $1,235 instead of the $2,000 he had requested. The incident played out in front of the congregation and was captured on a livestream. 


  • Winans had asked members to donate "$1,000 plus $1,000" toward a long-running building project.
  • When McCoy presented her $1,235 donation, Winans publicly interrupted and corrected her, saying, "That's only $1,200... That ain't what I asked you to do".
  • When McCoy said she would give the rest later, Winans reiterated, "That's not what I asked you to do".
  • The incident went viral, with many on social media accusing the pastor of public shaming and spiritual manipulation. 
Reasons for declining attendance in Black churches are complex and multifaceted, extending beyond individual incidents. The text provided in the query highlights one common point of criticism regarding financial solicitations. However, other factors are frequently cited in discussions about the changing relationship between individuals and the Black church.

Studies and discussions on this topic often point to a variety of contributing elements
Factors contributing to the decline Generational and cultural changes: Younger Black Americans grew up with different access to information and are more likely to seek spirituality outside of organized religion. Some may disagree with traditional church teachings or find the message less resonant.
  • Scandals and hypocrisy: High-profile scandals involving church leaders and a perceived gap between the church's promises and its actions have disillusioned some younger Black Americans.
  • Socioeconomic changes: A growing number of Black Americans live in suburbs, moving away from the historically urban-centered Black church.
  • Decreased male attendance: The declining attendance of Black men has been a documented issue for decades. Reasons include feeling ostracized or underrepresented in leadership.


  • Changing perspectives on spirituality and religion: Some individuals, particularly younger generations, may identify as spiritual but not religious, seeking individualized approaches to faith outside of traditional organized religion.
  • Desire for different forms of worship and community: Preferences for worship styles, community engagement, and how churches address contemporary social issues can vary among individuals.
  • Negative past experiences: Personal experiences within a church community can significantly influence an individual's decision to leave.
  • Perceptions of institutional relevance: Some individuals may feel that traditional church structures and practices do not adequately address their current needs or concerns. 
These factors represent a range of personal and societal shifts that contribute to evolving patterns of church attendance and engagement.


#FBA  #ADOS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charlie Kirk's Evil Legacy

Image
  Charlie Kirk’s This is a story of ambition, timing, and mastery of the digital age. Here's a chronicle of how he went from a politically curious teenager to one of the most influential conservative voices in America: NOT!  He was backed by industry. He was backed by the billionaire donor class -- something that actually never comes up in this conversation or debate... I see two sides of the neoliberal coin in this debate ."    Kirk’s ideology was caustic; he espoused openly homophobic, racist, sexist, Islamophobic and Christian nationalist views while uplifting misinformation and conspiracy theories. He also campaigned on issues that mattered to young Americans, engaging directly with them – no matter how virulently – on hot-button topics such as abortion, transgender rights, race and Palestinian solidarity.   The arguing technique that Charlie Kirk uses? He had a clever technique that is manipulative.   Kirk uses a very cynical and biased ve...
Read more

Racial Inequality

Image
QUESTION: Why do white people HATE Black people????? Breaking it down, here’s how racial inequality shows up across education , health , and wealth systems , and why these structures make it hard for many white people to truly see others us/as equal. 📚 Education: “Separate but still unequal” Despite landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education , racial disparities in education persist: Funding gaps: Black students are 3.5 times more likely than white students to attend chronically underfunded schools. Segregation by race: Over half of Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander students attend schools where 75%+ of classmates share their race—while white students are more likely to attend racially mixed schools. Disciplinary bias: Students of color face harsher punishments for similar infractions, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline. Restricted curriculum: In 44 states, bills have been introduced to ban teaching abo...
Read more

Political Theater

Image
  Political Theater and the Black Voter Walkaway Representative Summer Lee rushed to an immigration detention center to fight for people who just got here while Black Americans in her district are still fighting for basic dignity. This is exactly why we walked away. Let me tell you about the most insulting political theater I've witnessed lately. Representative Summer Lee , a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, made headlines rushing to an immigration detention center, demanding entry, fighting tooth and nail for the rights of people who literally just arrived in this country. Meanwhile, Black Americans in her own district are dealing with crumbling schools, food deserts, police brutality, and economic abandonment that's been going on for decades. And this woman has the audacity to wonder why black voters are walking away from the Democratic party. See, Summer Lee represents everything that's wrong with Black Democratic leadership today. She's more concerned with ...
Read more