The pastor of a Pentecostal church in Missouri berated his congregation for not buying him a luxury watch in a clip from his Sunday sermon that’s gone viral.
“Let me kick down the door and talk to my cheap sons and daughters,” said Pastor Carlton Funderburke on August 7. “You can buy a Movado watch in Sam’s, and y’all know I asked for one last year. Here it is the whole way in August, I still ain’t got it.”
Funderburke, founding senior pastor of Church at the Well in Kansas City, further tells his congregants: “This is how I know you’re still poor, broke, busted, and disgusted—because of how you been honoring me. I’m not worth your McDonald’s money? I’m not worth your Red Lobster money?”
The one-minute video clip from his Sunday message, first released last week on TikTok by the Kansas City Defender, has accumulated over a million views on various platforms.
@kansascitydefender Kansas City Pastor GOES OFF on congregation calling them “poor, broke busted and disgusted” because they didn’t give him enough money to buy a new watch he’s been wanting. It’s pastors like these that give the church a bad name smh an also why a lot of our generation left the church. What y’all think? 🤔
On Tuesday, the church released a two-and-a-half-minute video statement from Funderburke, who said he “privately apologized to our church, who have extended their love and support to me.”
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He added: “I apologize to all who have been hurt, angered, or in any way damaged by my words . . . My actions and my words are inexcusable. I offer no justification or defense. I deeply regret this moment.”
However, the pastor stated there is “context behind the content” of the clip, which he does not explain. But he added that “no context will suffice to explain the hurt and anguish caused by my words.”
The viral video has been widely derided online. “Wretched,” said a commenter online named Robert. “Using his own examples, the people in his congregation need that money for food.”
Movado watches are currently available through Sam’s Club, with prices ranging from $315 to $425.
Funderburke’s church is located on the South Side of Kansas City where the median price of a home is $195,000, according to realtor.com.
Via Twitter, CJ Guion shared the clip and stated: “I hope Black people will wake up one day about many of these scamming pastors.”
Funderburke leads Church at the Well with his wife, Sylvarena, who is also listed as senior leader.
According to their website, the church receives oversight from We Have Not Many Fathers Fellowship International, a regional association that appears inactive and is led by Funderburke’s father-in-law. The church also is reportedly under Global United Fellowship (GUF), a Pentecostal association with headquarters in the Bahamas.
The pastor noted in his apology video that he has had private conversations with overseeing leaders. “I’ve spoken to those I am accountable to and have received their correction and instruction,” he said.
The Roys Report reached out to Pastor Funderburke via social media, but did not hear back. Following initial publication of this story, Global United Fellowship confirmed that Funderburke is “a very long active affiliated member of GUF since inception” and noted that Church at the Well had only recently been affiliated.
This story has been updated to include new information from Global United Fellowship.
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16 Responses
I’m a hireling. Now pay me my wages.
Kick down the door and throw him out! He’s a false prophet!
Not only disappointing, it’s manipulative.
Does he not have a cell phone that tells time?
And will someone explain to me why anyone would continue to go to a church with such a pastor?
An apology would not be enough for me. How do people continue to attend a church where the pastor is materialistic with a super self-centered disposition and even berates you???
Evangelicals at there best. He forgot to not think out loud anymore.
Trump won the election don’t you know – because we prophesied it beforehand….
Love religion!
So, who should we be upset with? The preacher? Or the people sitting in the pew?
“My people perish for a LACK of knowledge”
SMH
I tried to view Church at the Well on googlemaps using the address on their website, and all I could see was a “Christ Our Redeemer Church” that was permanently closed. Julie, are you sure this isn’t a total spoof? “Funderburke” (denoting Fundamentalist Berk) seems too good a name for that kind of person to be true!
The full name of that defunct church is Christ Our Redeemer Ame Church.
It was in the 1960s that alongside a quite well argued tract condemning the New English Bible, I also read a tract by “Rev A.M.Funderburk” (I think I have the spelling correct) listing some trivial, insignificant differences between the Revised Standard Version and the King James Version and condemning the RSV on these grounds. Even in my besotted charismaniac state at the time, I realised that this was probably a satirical spoof by an anti-evangelical – sadly there are valid grounds for rejecting the RSV in favour of the KJV.
This is why I question the existence of THIS Rev Funderburke, but recocognise that sadly there are real megachurch leaders who are in reality no better.
It’s real. I found the church on Google Maps just fine. If you scroll through the Facebook page, you will find many livestreamed services lasting several hours long.
No this man is not worth a watch – and if I was a member of said church, I would vote with my feet and walk out of that place. This is one of many reasons why a lot of people quit going to church. “Sorry” doesn’t work with me – he needs to be put out of the ministry.
So, who should we be upset with? The preacher? Or the people sitting in the pew?
“My people perish for a LACK of knowledge”
SMH
In the apology video he takes full responsibility, has submitted to authority, makes no excuses, and has apologized to people individually for what he did and how it hurt them.
I find this overall story encouraging. This young man clearly has wise counsel and accountability and that is more than can be said for many young shepherds.
The good news here is that he was transparent with his greed and shallowness. No one needs to guess or make assumptions about it or claim it is gossip. If those in his congregation choose to put up with this nonsense that is up to them. Fortunately none of are required to continue attending or supporting an assigned church.
You can’t make this stuff up. If this dude can find a flock that will put up with this, more power to him. Capitalism/freedom of choice in action.