A Detroit pastor is feeling the heat for inviting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to a Saturday morning service, as well as an interview with the pastor’s Christian TV show afterwards.

Apostle Wayne T. Jackson of Detroit’s Great Faith Ministries wants to hear The Donald out on the his plans for the black community, and his focus, if elected.

But many in his congregation, other black community leaders, and local liberal politicians are lambasting the outspoken clergyman for what they perceive as a publicity stunt.

In numerous recent Facebook posts, Jackson has defended the decision to host Trump and insisted that black Americans should hear from both presidential candidates, preferably in person, before heading to the voting booth.

“This interview is not an endorsement. This is engagement,” Jackson posted to Facebook Thursday. “We have given Hillary Clinton the same opportunity as Donald Trump and she has not yet responded.

“This is not to put one up above the other but you gotta understand that we are in a race, and there’s two people in the race. This is to inform our community of what he will do if elected. #IMPACTElection2016.”

Deadline Detroit reports the plan is for Trump to attend the church’s 11 a.m. service on Saturday, then to sit down with Jackson for “a frank on-air conversation” that will be broadcast at a later, undisclosed time.

The website B.L.A.C. – an acronym for “Black Life, Arts & Culture” – is among those leading the opposition to Trump’s visit.

In an article titled “Bishop Wayne T. Jackson is interviewing Donald Trump and it’s 100% OK if you just ignore it,” Aaron Foley opined that the whole thing is a sham.

“Let’s be clear on one thing: This is not ‘an opportunity as a community to get answers,’” as Bishop explains on his Impact Network website, Foley wrote. “This is a ratings grab, pure and simple.”

Foley continued:

It’s shock value. It’s entertainment. It’s getting people to tune into a Christian television network to see what kind of operation Jackson is running in the hopes that viewers will keep tuning in after Trump leaves. It’s an exercise in vanity for a man who literally takes bottles of water, says a prayer over them and sells them. You could walk to your nearest party store, buy a bottle of water yourself and read a few holy verses over it.

It’s disrespectful to the black church in Detroit. It sends the message to non-Detroiters that Black Christians are cheaply and easily bought. Just show up on Sunday, and you’ve got our vote. It is true that political candidates absolutely must stump in the church to cozy up to Black voters. But there is such a thing as discretion. You wouldn’t just let anyone come up to the pulpit (or in this case, the interview chair), would you?

Others, like Kim Trent – a member of the Wayne State Board of Governors and former aide to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow – are lashing out on Facebook. Trent was particularly critical of Trump as she encouraged parishioners to boycott the Saturday service, Deadline Detroit reports.

“Attention is what feeds this monster, so it would be great if we could starve him of it,” Trent wrote. “It would also send a powerful message … if Jackson’s church members stayed home instead of allowing themselves to be used as human props for this hateful, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, phony liar …

“There is NO WAY I accept Jackson’s explanation that he invited Trump so he can interview him. What does he think he’s going to glean from talking to Trump that we don’t already know? Trump is disgraceful and so are those who get used by him.”

Jackson has vehemently denied that the meeting is a publicity stunt, or that his network was paid by the Trump campaign for the interview.

At least one black pastor has defended Trump’s Detroit visit: South Carolina Pastor Mark Burns, who has worked with Trump’s campaign since meeting with the New York billionaire.

“Mr. Trump will answer questions that are relevant to the African-American community such as education … unemployment, making our streets safe and creating better opportunities for all,” Burns told The Detroit News. “He will then give an address to outline policies that will impact minorities and the disenfranchised in our country.”

Dr. Ben Carson, a Detroit native, will accompany Trump in the Motor City, according to the news site.

“Citizens around the country will see, as I’ve seen, the heart and compassion Mr. Trump has for all Americans, which includes minority communities whose votes have been taken for granted for far too long,” Burns said.