“The truth is, when finances are being received in any worship gathering, it is one of the most vulnerable and exposed times for both the finance and security teams,” Marvin Sapp said in his Facebook response. “Movement during this sacred exchange can be distracting and, at times, even risky.”
“My directive was not about control,” he said. “It was about creating a safe, focused, and reverent environment for those choosing to give, and for those handling the resources.”
Sapp suggested that people are reacting to snippets of the conference without understanding the context. “One of my responsibilities was to help raise the conference budget,” he said. “That’s not manipulation, it’s stewardship.”
The bishop went on to offer “some biblical context, not opinion, not tradition, but Scripture,” citing 1 Chronicles 29, which describes King David and leaders of Israel giving generously to the building of God’s temple.
“The Bible says they gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones,” said Sapp. “Specific amounts were recorded not because God needed their money, but because the people needed to show their commitment to the vision and because stewardship demands accountability.”
“So when someone challenges people to give a specific amount, it is not unbiblical,” said Sapp. “It is not manipulation. It is in order. It is consistent with Scripture.”
“Here’s the tension: people’s traditions often conflict with biblical truth,” said the bishop, quoting Mark 7:13.
“Yes, you saw a moment. But I invite you to understand the movement behind it,” Sapp said. “I felt it was necessary to provide context to this clip, and I hope you’ll share this explanation with the same passion and speed [with which] the original clip was shared. Honor, clarity, and truth are what I owe the people and I’ll always provide just that.”
