Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Actually Richard it is like apple or any other corporation. The founding pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, announced Monday hes resigned from his positions amid a legal battle with the churchs trustees. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Kim Roberts May 3, 2022. Like many ARC churches, Celebration Churchs bylaws require overseers, who must be ordained pastors at other churches. The Weemses filed a request on March 15 for Celebration Church to produce the following documents within 30 days: READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems request to produce. Please send all questions about groups to info@celebration.org. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Depart from me you evil doers of iniquity for I NEVER KNEW YOU! Connection and life change may take time and can be found in open, honest conversations. We believe true life change happens in the context of community and we welcome everyone to experience this together, no matter what church you call your home! Stovall Weems was suspended from Celebration Church in January, according to the Weemses suit against the church. According to news4jax.com, the report includes allegations of financial misconduct and fraud, among others. Asked for comment on the new filing, Wedekind said Tuesday he was looking into how that should be handled. Celebration Church is a member of the Association of Related Churches and aims to lead people to experience a God-First life. This transaction was performed with full transparency and in line with the amount approved by the Churchs compensation committee. Sara Brady, spokesperson for Stovall and Kerri Weems, The News4JAX I-TEAM reached back out to Celebration Church to see if it had a response to the Weemses spokespersons statement on Thursday. The spokeswoman for Weems said the church's audited financial reports certified that the PPP money was used for purposes the law allowed. The motion outlines four areas of concern: A spokesperson for the Weemses told the News4JAX I-TEAM that no PPP funds went to Honey Lake Farms LLC. Included as an exhibit to the trustees motion to dismiss, a Jan. 4 email apparently sent from Weems to trustee Kevin Cormier and copied to other church leaders speaks of behavior related to fraudulent billing, criminal usury and possible embezzlement. Groups that do have childcare options will have that listed in their groups description. These cookies do not store any personal information. ", Celebration Church (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union), Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, a statement from the church said. SEU JACKSONVILLE. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Pastor Stovall Weems, one of the founders of Celebration Church, has resigned. Create an account or sign in to your My Celebration Account to sign up! He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. Wedekinds motion to dismiss said that, in December, the trustees had learned of worrisome financial transactions including the churchs purchase of a parsonage from a company that Weems controlled. ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. From hangouts to bible studies, large format to small groups, meeting out at a coffee shop or in somebody's home we have a place for every person that walks through the doors of Celebration Church to connect in community and build lasting relationships with others. The injunction said that trustee began feeding other trustees and senior church members lies and convinced them that Stovall Weems committed misconduct, leading to his suspension. Any and all documents supporting your allegation that Pastor Stovall made multiple large transfers to new for-profit entities that the Weemses intended to manage going forward including but not limited to bank records and written communications. Pastor Stovall invested approximately $100,000 in Turncoin, an SEC approved investment, for the purpose of creating a retirement fund for long-time Celebration Church employees. He also said the Timberlakes had effectively been functioning as lead pastors for about a year by the time the transition became official. Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner News4Jax. Attorney Gene Nichols, whose not affiliated with the case, reviewed the document. King said Full Source owns the building next door. Global Senior Pastor Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, say in their lawsuit that Weems was wrongly suspended from his post in January after a trustee falsely claimed that Pastor Stovall was improperly manipulating and misdirecting the churchs finances., In reality, the suit argues, Weems had confronted the trustee after discovering fraud on the church and the trustee reacted by feeding the other trustees and senior church members lies and misinformation.. The filingincluded broad denials of wrongdoing by the Weemses, who launched the church in 1998. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us. The first violation, of Standard Two, concerns organizational governance and states that Every organization shall be governed by a responsible board of not less than five individuals, a majority of whom shall be independent, who shall meet at least semiannually to establish policy and review its accomplishments.. Weve had a great relationship with Full Source and they were looking to expand their space here on Deerwood and simultaneously we were looking to move some of our operations to our hub (Arena) location, King said. Stovall Weems dismissed the trustee in January over the alleged misconduct, according to the Weemses lawsuit. The 71-page filing repeated elements of the original complaint, saying Weemshad discovered misconduct by a trustee who spread lies about the pastor to convince other trustees to support his ouster. She said Weems invested $100,000 in the digital security platform TurnCoin to create a retirement fund for longtime church employees and that the investment is worth $1.5 million now, but that none of that was done with PPP money. . Oddly enough, I can certify that Celebration was listed as an ARC-affiliated church as little as one week before this was published. "I have and will continue to cooperate with the churchs investigation which has included the collection of documentation" about the claim, Cormier said. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. What sickens me is these churches got tax payor money and dont pay a dime of taxes. Headquartered off Baymeadows Road near Interstate 295, Celebration has grown exponentially to include locations in Amelia Island, Orlando, South Florida, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., plus. King said the church will feature a 1,000-seat sanctuary, a preschool and childrens wing for kindergarten through fifth grade, a large youth space and classrooms. "Celebration Church has been mine and my familys church home for close to ten years. Their own personal accounts and their own personal monies and any assets that they own personally could become an issue and could be something the bank could go after, he said. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Celebration Church, one of the biggest churches in the Jacksonville area, on Monday released findings from an internal investigation into its founding pastor, Stovall. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. In written answers to Times-Union questions, Weems's spokeswoman said Tuesday that the home needed updates when it was bought in February and that those had been "contemplated all along by all parties involved." The Weemses denied misusing the PPP funds and the other alleged financial missteps in an extensive statement to News4JAX. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. To sign up for a group, please follow these instructions: 3. A hearing scheduled for Tuesday was canceled but new attorneys for the couple filed an amended complaint that said a scurrilous narrative and false and defamatory statements were circulated to discredit and humiliate them. Our desire was forthis internal conflictto remainaprivate matter, and we are saddened for the pain this situation has caused for so many, the statement said. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. The suit and a response from a church attorney trade dueling claims of improprieties, including: Weems and his wife are asking Circuit Judge Marianne Aho for a court order that, among other things, would restore Weems to his lead role at the church the couple founded in 1998; restart his salary with back pay since January; and discard changes to church bylaws the trustees approved then that created a route to suspend him. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. From hangouts to bible studies, meeting out at a coffee shop or in someones home we have a place for every person that walks through the doors of Celebration Church to connect in community and build lasting relationships with others. He was suspended by the governing board earlier this year. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. There has been zero, qualified accountability with this group. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Gospel for Asia Files for Creditor Protection, MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Way Media Inc. (WayFM). The church said the trustees requested an investigation into the founding pastors when they discovered the Weemses engaged in a series of questionable financial transactions without board knowledge or authorization in early 2021. The church paid just under $1.3 million for the home on Black Hammock Island in June 2021, about 50 percent more than Weems company paid for the home in February 2021, according to property records. First Citizens Bank said, as of May 5, the defendants owed a total of $716,123: The Defendants have failed, neglected and refused to pay the Plaintiff, according to the filing from First-Citizens Bank. Therefore, the Church purchased the home from The Weems Group at the $1.3 million price. What I have witnessed is more pastors are using their authority to control the narrative. Even then, $5 million is still not enough to adequately maintain the campus, he said. Celebration Church, a megachurch in Jacksonville, Florida, has had its membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) terminated for violating two of its standards. However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. The Weemses also said theyve been threatened with arrest if they come onto church property. A civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. Celebration Church on the Southside of Jacksonville. Thanks Mark, I feel bad for all the other people who got hurt by the church leaders. We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God.. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. The allegations of spiritual abuse are kind of a head scratcher because that doesnt just happen when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Example video title will go here for this video, In the News: National headlines for March 1, 2023. The infamous denial of the mega church pastor continues, We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us, Complete lack of leadership accountability once again. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. After the initial lawsuit drew public attention, the church released a report that claimed Weems had been committing fraud, [and] unjustly enriching himself at the expense of the church., The new complaint says the report was bogus and that Weems and his wife are trying now to clear their names and expose how the seditionists now in control [of] Celebration Church maliciously and unjustifiably ruined Plaintiffs ability to work in their chosen profession.. I watched the pastor move away from dependence on Christ, to emphasizing the muzzuzah, and hand signs. The investigation is largely focused on two different aspects of the Weems leadership, said Lee D. Wedekind III, a partner in the law firm Nelson Mullins. This article has been corrected to accurately describe the churchs relationship with ARC. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Search by Location or Filter by Keyword. Wells without water clouds without rain, they are the foam of the ocean washed up upon the shores ! Tim Timberlake was named Weems successor to lead the nearly 12,000-member church. Now they've finally tied the knot, Soccer's Orlando Pride ditches players' white shorts over period concerns, Rooftop bar and music venue planned for Bay Street, NASA made history by knocking an asteroid off course. Administration of the Churchs PPP funds was controlled by the Churchs CFOs. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Shameless , Thankless, money grabbers, arrogant, self willed , Covetous, proud, indulgent , deceptive, eyes full of adultery (spiritual)and empowered by doctrines of devils blind degenerate souls! And He will say to them in that day if judgment! Find more information on upcoming services, workshops, and ministry events. Its motion to dismiss states the Constitution doesnt give a secular court the authority to tell a church how to run its affairs. During that same four-month period, the median sales price for a Jacksonville-area single-family home rose 17 percent, to $330,000, according to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. Ameris Bank issued a $6.3 million mortgage to Full Source for the property, which records show is a 78,432-square-foot building on almost 2 acres. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. Throughout each day we have pastors and a prayer team on stand-by if you should need to stop in to have someone pray with you. Other pastors dont spend much time looking after other pastors; it is the board and leadership that witnesses this every week. What Happens Now? The Weemses also said theyve been threatened with arrest if they enter church property. The investigation found that many witnesses described intense personal anguish and pain caused by working for the Weemses., The investigative report said there were Office Hospitality sheets that were similar to over-the-top green room riders required by celebrities and that they reflected the Weemses immense entitlement and self-importance., Stovall Weems resigned from his positions in April. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. All of them ! COURT DOCUMENT: Read the complaint filed by First Citizens Bank. View our Privacy Policy. The Celebration Church Jacksonville scandal is all about Stovall Weems telling that he met Jesus Christ on Good Friday and was surprised by his personality. Weems has filed suit against the church claiming he was illegally removed from leadership, but Timberlake has assured the church that he will , continue to lead with integrity, godly character, love, honor, and excellence., Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), God is Queer, Duke Divinity Students Proclaim. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. Join us for Wednesday night services at all Jacksonville locations with hang-time from 6:30-7:00PM and service beginning at 7:00PM. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. When Is A Bible Translation Not A Bible Translation? In February, after Stovall Weems was suspended, the Weemses filed suit against Celebration Church, alleging the church retaliated against them for reporting financial misconduct. Another recounted that an employee was instructed to purchase a car for Stovall Weems and deliver it to his home. This isnt Apple, Coca-Cola, General Motors, etc.! Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North Americas biggest church planting organization. Sara Brady gave the following response on behalf of the Weemses: The Motion to Dismiss alleges that more than $1 million in PPP money went to fund Honey Lake Farms, LLC and to purchase Turncoin. That was nearly completed when the lawsuit was filed, the statement said. The couples suit says the church was billed $18,000 per month as rent for a home Cormier owned that was being renovated and wasnt habitable. The founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church are suing the Jacksonville megachurch's hand-picked trustees to avoid being ousted over claims of financial irregularities. They said through a spokesperson that the price difference on the parsonage reflected extensive updates, repairs and housing-related expenses they had paid for before selling it to the church. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. But according to a court filing by Celebration Church, the Weemses are spiritually and financially abusive predators who acted like they owned the church and could do with it what they wanted.. To donate, Volk runs his own nonprofit Together For Israel, Former Pastor Accused of Rape Resigns from Churchome After TRR Investigation; Church Official Makes False Claims, Embattled Next Level Church Closes as More Demand Investigation & Audit, Judah Smiths Celebrity Megachurch Hires Man Accused of Rape Over Alleged Victims Objections, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. Fla. Pastor stovall Weems, one of the Association of Related churches and even ARC! Wells without water clouds without rain, they are the foam of the relationship. I NEVER KNEW you churches and even the ARC itself, arguably Americas! The report includes allegations of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse suspended from Celebration Church is preparing to an. 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