A Kansas City pastor has apologized to his congregation after a video of him launching into a blistering tired against them for not buying him a designer watch.
In the video, pastor Carlton Funderburke of the Church of the Well in Kansas City can be heard calling his non-denominational congregation “poor, broke, busted and disgusted.”
“See that’s how I know you still poor, broke, busted, and disgusted because of how you’ve been honoring me,” Funderburke said during the rant. “I’m not worth your McDonald’s money? I’m not worth your Red Lobster money? I ain’t worth your St. John’s knit? Y’all can’t afford it no-how. I ain’t worth your Louis Vuitton? I ain’t worth your Prada? I’m not worth your Gucci?”
Funderburke added, “Ooh, you can buy a Movado [watch] at Sam’s [Club] and you know I asked for one last year. And here it is all the way in August and I still ain’t got it.”
The pastor faced backlash after the video was uploaded to social media. The growing trend of pastors relying on their congregation to line their pockets, leaving churchgoers increasingly uncomfortable.
Funderburke caught wind of the rising unrest and quickly posted an apology video.
“I want to take this moment to address the now-viral video clip with me from a sermon given on August 7, 2022. Though there is context behind the content of the clip, no context will suffice to explain the hurt and the anguish caused by my words. I’ve spoken to those I’m accountable to and have received their correction and instruction,” Funderburke said.
