Popular Gospel Singer Pastor Marvin Winans Allegedly Refuses To Bless Babies of Unwed Mothers
Gospel Fred Hammond, Pastor Marvin Winans
Someone has a bone to pick with Rev. Marvin Winans. Charity Grace, single mom and Detroit native, was planning to have her son Joshua blessed at a dedication ceremony at the Perfecting Church but was turned away. Why you ask? Earlier this week, Grace called the church helmed by gospel singer and pastor Winans to sign up for the event and was allegedly told by a church representative that Pastor Winans doesn’t bless babies to unwed mothers in front of the congregation. Grace explained,
I want to instill values and morals in my son based upon the word of God. I told them I was not married and that’s where everything just broke loose.I’ve never felt so degraded and disrespected in my life. What they could do for me is let my son get dedicated, during a week day with one of the elders of my choice. I absolutely would not set foot back in the church right now because I feel like they look down upon me and my kind, meaning single moms and unwed mothers. The church should be the last place you should go to be judged and denied.
Bishop Freddy Edwards, Marvin Winans
A local pastor agrees with Grace, suggesting that she should have never been turned away for this reason:
Every pastor has set up the pattern of his church, the way he feels or deems fit. But as it relates to the scripture, I feel like it’s wrong. I feel like we’re judging, but we’re not judging with righteous judgement. I’m not speaking against the pastor, but sometimes we make poor decisions.
Winans is part of the famous family, who also includes Vicky, BeBe, CeCe ,Ronald and Daniel. He has released several solo albums with the Perfecting Church choir. Winans also starred in a recurring role on Tyler Perry’s ‘House of Payne’ and portrayed Pastor Brian in the film ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’ starring Taraji P.Henson. He also delivered a portion of the eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral. Winans and The Perfecting Church have yet to release a statement. What are your thoughts? A bit extreme or does his alleged view point reflect biblical scripture?
[Fox News Detroit, HuffPo, Twitter]
-@lipstickheelstv
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this is interesting…
That is ridiculous. The CHILD can’t be blessed b/c of the mother? Like she said, church is the last place you should go to be judged. Smh. And he calls himself a man of God. I beg to differ.
Amen! I don’t know what good comes from turning people (no less a child) away from GOD and the church.
There are so many assumptions these days and so many people are quick to become offended. The pastor does not appear to be trying to disrespect nor offend anyone by the church policy. The child is already blessed by God and the policy of the church does not turn anyone away from God nor that church. It is a person’s choice to reject the policy of a ministry and TAKE it personally. The purpose of the dedication is to devote the child to God based upon scripture. It is not just because someone wants to have something nice at church. I do not know if this was her thoughts, but some people do make request from pastors without knowing the biblical reason for their request. It is my opinion that she might have been hurt by the rejection, and this is unfortunate but she also should have asked to speak with the pastor and get clarification from him personally. She may have been offended not by the policy itself but by how the person she spoke with relayed the message. There are some times when people will speak for a pastor in a way that conveys THEIR feelings and not how the leader of the congregation feels. Not everyone in church acts appropriately. Are there pastors that are controlling, abrasive and judgmental, yes. Not every leader is this way even if they have to make unpopular decisions. I think it is unfair to now JUDGE a leader for a general church policy by assuming that you know why that policy is wrong. It is equally wrong to judge an individual because of assumptions as to a decision because he happens to be a religious leader. There are enough things in the world to be offended over. There should be dialogue and then if there is no agreement then she can find another pastor to perform the dedication without this bringing damage to the young lady’s faith and a negative image to someone who is trying to lead God’s people the best way he knows how even though it’s not going to please everyone.
This is why most churches have “dedication” classes before the ceremony. This is to teach everyone involved what the dedication and commitment is really about. You don’t just tell people that because you are not wed, your child can not be dedicated.
Very good point. I think sometimes people think it’s like a social affair.
@ understanding – YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT. Sometimes we just to get clarification on things before we jump to conclusions. I think you said it very well as far as explaining it from both sides.
I agree. So much is in the manner in which we approach this incident. Some clarificatio is in order. Based on your insight could this be a communication problem?
This is just crazy/beyond ridiculous! Why wouldn’t any man of God not bless anyone, especially a PURE and innocent baby? This would seriously make me question him as a pastor. Instead of setting up his own rules, how about those of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? He needs to put the personal aside.
He didn’t say he wouldn’t blessed the child, just not in front of the congregation. Pastors don’t won’t to send the wrong message to the congregation by honoring an unwed mother in front of everyone. So, they usually bless children to unwed parents in their office or somewhere else, just not in front of the congregation.
key words are “in front of the congregation”
the baby can be blessed.
People we have to start standing on the word for real.We are bending everything to fit and squeeze out the word of our father.You can’t have your way at the expense of the lord.
There are a lot of unwed mothers who get their children ‘dedicated’ because its tradition and nothing more. They havent turned from their old life nor do they plan to. Not saying this is her situation. I would imagine that he wants to convey a message overall that he does not condone this behavior or put his ‘stamp of approval’ on it. I would also imagine that its no secret at his church that he doesnt do it. Meaning hes probably preached on it before. That being said, every church isnt for everyone. I do hope that she plans on raising him according to the word but for the most part, I always wonder why women even go through the motions when it means nothing to them or how they raise the child going forward. Empty ceremonies are meaningless
Well said.
They didn’t turn her away. They said the baby could be blessed during the week but not in front of the church. With the world the way it is, I don’t disagree with the church. We have to get back to the basics and stand on it. People these days are running crazy, how do we stop it: going back to having morals and virtues. There are sooooo many young people having kids and not properly taking care of them. They need parenting class, life skill classes, and education alone with blessing from the church.
If God forgave her for her sins as far as the east is from the west no human on earth has the right to continue to rub her past sin it in her face. Correct teaching will modify behavior. More than half of the black population is/was born out of wedlock but the church (Marvin Winan in this case) has no right to keep a saint in bondage. Stupid unscriptural teachings like this make people who love the Lord turn away from Him. We live under GRACE and not the LAW. Get with correct teaching. Pastor Marvin if you were going to dot every “I” and cross every “t” then you should step down from pastoring on account of your previous divorce and remarriage. If you can be forgiven why can’t she be? The nerve! The rejection of Jesus is what will send you to hell not necessarily having a baby out of wedlock.
The mother should have been able to dedicate her child in the same matter as everyone else. It doesn’t matter if she is not married. We have no idea if she asked God for forgiveness for falling. If she did then He says in His word “your sins will I remember no more” or “He is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins”. We can’t hold things against a person who has already been forgiven. You have to examine if a policy is a “man” policy or a God policy. It is His church so want goes on in it should be based on Him and not our opinion. We have countless examples in the word of unlikely people that didn’t do things right BUT once forgiven, they did great things out in the open. With a policy like this, Paul, Rahab, Solomon, ect would have to book a separate appointment right along with this mother.
I had to revisit this site because it really struck a cord with me.You know what’s amazing to me?When we start a job they tell us when payday is we except that,social security benefits and welfare checks,food stamps etc.We except that as well.When you go into a grocery store we wait in line to be rung up,we wait.They say you need a licenses to drive a car we obey that as well.Let the King of Kings give instruction and we want to debate,discuss,work it to fit us.I’m not saying Pastor is the King but I’m saying he is trying to do the laws of the King.No one is saying this child don’t precious and no one is saying she’s not forgiven.Let the word be the word.
What law of the King are you referring to in this case? If it’s the act of fornication, that has nothing to do with that baby. That’s between the woman and God. Then if she’s forgiven, her fornication is not being held against her so she can bring her baby to the front. David and Bathsheba’s union was a hot mess. However, out of it came a child that God didn’t bless in a back office. No, He set that child in the FRONT of His people to sit on the throne. It’s called Grace. It’s called the Blood. It’s called Forgiveness. When applied it puts you in a place as if you never did what you did. So The Blood qualifies mother and baby to stand in that line with everyone else.
If you can come boldly before the Father, why do you have to duck to back offices with man….just wondering.
At some point, our churches will again be full of people. And that point will occur when our church doors are wide open TO ALL so that the word can be prophesized, and not used to slander. Our pews are empty because we feel more condemned by the word than taught by it. So sad.