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 have 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's 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 have 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
too. 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. AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN