Who is Donnie McClurkin? Three-time Grammy-winning gospel singer accused of sexually abusing a man

Donnie McClurkin, a three-time Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor, has been accused of sexually abusing a young man during so-called “pray the gay away” spiritual sessions over several years, according to a report by NBC. Citing a lawsuit filed on Friday, January 2, in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, NBC reported that the accuser, Giuseppe Corletto, was 21 years old when he first met McClurkin in 2003.

The lawsuit alleges that Corletto, who was struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his Christian faith, began attending McClurkin’s church in Long Island, New York, after reading the singer’s autobiographical book. According to the filing, what initially appeared to be spiritual mentorship later escalated into sexual assault and rape between 2007 and 2015. According to the civil lawsuit, McClurkin, who was 44 at the time, allegedly took Corletto under his wing as a personal assistant. The pair later travelled together on business trips, during which McClurkin is accused of sexually assaulting him, the court filings said, as cited by the outlet.

NBC also reported that McClurkin, known for the song Speak to My Heart, allegedly sent Corletto an apology email in which he described himself as a “desperate dirty old man.”


McClurkin has denied the allegations. His attorney, Greg Lisi, said that the claims were “categorically false.” “At no time did Pastor McClurkin engage in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion of Mr. Corletto,” Lisi said in a statement quoted by the outlet.

Who is Donnie McClurkin?

Donnie McClurkin is a prominent American gospel singer, pastor, and church leader based in New York, now accused of sexually abusing a man. He is the founder and senior pastor of Perfecting Faith Church (PFC) in Freeport, New York, according to the church’s official website, perfectingfaithchurch.

McClurkin, who was born on November 9, 1959 was ordained in 2001 and tasked with planting a new church after serving for more than a decade as an assistant pastor under Bishop Marvin Winans at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan. Perfecting Faith Church began with about 200 members and has since grown to more than 3,000 congregants.

Born in Copiague, New York, to Donald McClurkin Sr. and Frances McClurkin, he began his musical journey at an early age. He joined the choir at Amityville Full Gospel Tabernacle and, at 15, became a member of Benny Cummings and the King’s Temple Choir. He attended Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School.

Beyond his pastoral role, McClurkin is known for his work in evangelism and community outreach. Perfecting Faith Church operates under the motto “Ministry Means People,” encouraging all members to serve in various capacities. The church has established ministries in Hempstead, New York; Lakeland, Florida; Chester, South Carolina; and Harlem, New York.

McClurkin is also the founder and president of The New York Call, a coalition of more than 100 ministries across the New York tri-state area. The annual interdenominational event draws over 10,000 attendees and focuses on faith-based outreach. In addition to his ministry, McClurkin is a three-time Grammy Award-winning gospel artist, with 10 Stellar Awards and numerous other honours. In 2019, he received the Founders Award for Lifetime Achievement at the NAACP Image Awards, recognizing his impact on gospel music and ministry.