Stovall and Kerri Weems, who founded Celebration Church in 1998, filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief against Celebration Church on February 23, alleging a church trustee was improperly billing the church and was setting the scene to oust Stovall Weems from the church he built. They pushed out many of the older, spiritually mature folks because they felt threatened and knew they would be exposed. Connection and life change may take time and can be found in open, honest conversations. Open sin with no sense of remorse or wrong doing ! And He will say to them in that day if judgment! Renee Beninate is a Florida native and award-winning reporter who joined the News4Jax team in June 2021. . 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. 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.. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Pastor Stovall Weems, one of the founders of Celebration Church, has resigned. I have first hand knowledge of the spiritual abuse within this organization. The Weemses are accused of spiritually abusing church staff members, Wedekind said. After the employee delivered the car as demanded, Stovall Weems told him to find his own ride home, the report reads. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . King said Full Source owns the building next door. 77.245.154.222 I just want a humble and hungry people to be around. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. Venus and Jupiter are going in for a nighttime kiss, He proposed 60 years ago, then broke her heart. 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. Another recounted that an employee was instructed to purchase a car for Stovall Weems and deliver it to his home. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. Celebration Church said in its motion to dismiss that the board of trustees did not have knowledge of or give authorization to the purchase of property that was designated as church parsonage for the Weemses. Apostolic oversight of the senior pastor is entrusted to church overseers, the suit arguesnot the trustees. Details havent been released about financial arrangements mentioned in the suit, but portions of court filings mention them ominously. Our investigation is ongoing and will not be impeded. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15bd6698fd9b5e that this dispute is fundamentally a religious one over how the church should be run and how its leadership should be held accountable, the churchs motion argues. Kim Roberts May 3, 2022. Click here and search groups under your location! After that, it will be up to the trustees to decide whetheror how muchof the findings to make public. 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. 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.. Give me my job and salary back, even if you hate me? The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. A hearing on the dismissal motion is scheduled for May 20. The Weemses spokesperson released this statement to News4JAX on Thursday about the purchase of that property: Pastor Stovalls parsonage allowance as approved by the Board of Trustees, was approximately $1.3 million which included the price of the property and expected improvements. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church are suing the Jacksonville megachurchs hand-picked trustees to avoid being ousted over claims of financial irregularities. When a ministry encounters failureor even worse, scandalits difficulties can almost always be traced to a breakdown in governance, ECFA says in explaining Standard Two. Attorney Gene Nichols, whose not affiliated with the case, reviewed the document. I left because the Word was replaced with Michael Heiser teachings. Previous coverage: Bank sues Celebration Church founders for $716,000 in business debts, credit card bills, Church founder leaves: Celebration Church founder Stovall Weems quits, vows to 'continue our ministry elsewhere', 'At stake is control of the church': Celebration Church, founder Stovall Weems embroiled in legal dispute. Everlasting Punishment! The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. We are being retaliated against and have been denied a proper investigation according to long-held church by-laws. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. The Weems Group LLC purchased the home at $855,000. Where did the PPP money go? The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. The Weemses filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief against Celebration Church. He was installed to succeed Stovall Weems months before the legal battle was made public. Global Senior . Email:[emailprotected] We know that some of this money was used to buy property, potentially as an investment and or something for the church, and you can expect the bank to try to foreclose on that property, he said. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. In 2018, Celebration Church's total revenue for the year was valued at a reported $13,639,193 by the ECFA,[4] and their total assets were valued at a reported $44,213,694. The filingincluded broad denials of wrongdoing by the Weemses, who launched the church in 1998. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. SEU JACKSONVILLE. Hey Rob. Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. 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. Administration of the Churchs PPP funds was controlled by the Churchs CFOs. Celebration Church, a 12,000-member megachurch near Jacksonville, Florida, has released findings from an internal investigation into its founder, Pastor Stovall Weems, local media has reported. These are they that Peter says were born for hell before they were conceived ! 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. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us. The second phase of the project will include a 1,000-seat youth facility, church offices, adult classrooms and a wedding chapel. Thanks Mark, I feel bad for all the other people who got hurt by the church leaders. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Honey Lake Farms, LLC (which is different than the non-profit Honey Lake Farms, Inc.) is a for profit entity that was formed on the advice of the Churchs attorneys at Holland and Knight. Besides defamation, the new complaint accuses everyone being sued of invasion of privacyand publicly disclosing private facts. Founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction that would force the megachurch to recognize Weems as their chief executive officer and settle dueling claims of financial fraud involving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Examples listed on the ECFA website of conduct regarding use of resources that may violate Standard Four include: Tim Timberlake was chosen to succeed Weems as the senior pastor of Celebration Church earlier this year. A spokeswoman for Weems said the pastor wouldnt have any comment and that the court filing speaks for itself., said a scurrilous narrative and false and defamatory statements, represented former Alaska Gov. ), Sky 4 photo of Stovall and Kerri Weems' home, Any and all meeting minutes, agenda, and board resolutions, and any drafts thereof, of Board of Trustees meetings held between January 1, 2017 through present, Any and all documents relating to Pastor Stovall and Kerris compensation packages from 2017 through the present, including but not limited to written agreements and records of payment from the Church to them, Any and all documents relating to the churchs 2021 purchase of the parsonage from an entity controlled by Pastor Stovall as alleged on page 9 of the Motion To Dismiss. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. The church should not have been funding renovations to a home that was owned by Kevin and not by the church, the lawsuit adds. I pray under Timberlake, maybe they can return to preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is Celebration Church? These are fiefdoms and not churches. 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.. He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A spokesperson for the founding pastors of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in the Jacksonville area, says the couple did not misuse government Paycheck. The church was affiliated with the ARC as recently as last year. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. The motion to dismissalso asserted that more than $1 million the church received as a loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program was used to fund a Weems-managed entity and to invest in a digital currency system. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. Absolutely! 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. However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response, Transfers of church funds to new businesses the Weemses were going to manage, The churchs purchase of a parsonage for over $430,000 more than Stovall Weemss company had paid four months earlier when it bought the property, An advance of seven months salary to Stovall Weems and nine months salary to Kerri Weems even though neither one carried out the duties those salaries were for. What Happens Now? Celebration Arena [ edit] 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. To find the best group for you, simply click the advanced search tab under the group search bar and complete the filtered search. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. To donate, click here. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He also said the Timberlakes had effectively been functioning as lead pastors for about a year by the time the transition became official. Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse. Spokesperson for Stovall and Kerri Weems says funds were used for legally allowed purposes, Multiple large transfers to new for-profit entities that the Weemses intended to manage going forward, Churchs purchase of a parsonage (in which Stovall and Kerri Weems were to live rent-free) for $1,286,863.30 that a company solely owned by Stovall Weems had bought four months earlier for $855,000, Advancement of nine months salary to Kerri Weems and seven months salary to Stovall Weems in violation of Florida statute and the churchs own internal policies, despite neither Stovall nor Kerri Weems performing the duties of the offices that purportedly justified those salaries, Improper use of over $1,000,000 in PPP loan proceeds to fund the Weems-managed entity Honey Lake Farms, LLC and to purchase TurnCoin, an illiquid, speculative digital currency, (Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. No more needs to be said for a House of Hell reserved for. Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.. Was this article helpful? Oddly enough, I can certify that Celebration was listed as an ARC-affiliated church as little as one week before this was published. To view a group that you are a part of, sign in to your My Celebration Account and click the My Groups button below. Peters words are so true! A spokeswoman for Weems said the church has about 300 employees. While the investigation consists mostly of reviewing documents, Wedekind estimates a dozen to 15 people have been interviewed as well. The church included emails between Stovall Weems and trustees that it said backed up its version of events. COURT DOCUMENT: Read the complaint filed by First Citizens Bank. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. Sherman, I went there for about a 2 years because I wanted to see what my grandchildren were being taught. There has been zero, qualified accountability with this group. Stovall and Kerri Weems say they are whistleblowers and victims of retaliation by the church they foundedCelebration Church, a multi-site megachurch in Florida formerly part of the Association of Related Churches (ARC). This isnt Apple, Coca-Cola, General Motors, etc.! . A civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. When Is A Bible Translation Not A Bible Translation? The churchs executive pastor, Wayland Wiseman, said in written remarks Tuesday that Celebration has thrived under Timberlake and the church doesnt plan to comment while its investigation continues. The disputes effect on church operations has been limited because the lead pastor role switched last year to Senior Pastor Tim Timberlake, who conducts services and is the face of the church for many. From hangouts to bible studies, large format to small groups, meeting out at a coffee shop or in somebodys 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 churchs investigation has uncovered ample documentation to support the positions in its motion to dismiss, and Celebration remains confident that the truth will ultimately prevail. Lee Wedekind, attorney for Celebration Church, Celebration Church released a statement to News4JAX on Wednesday for our initial reporting on this case: Celebration Church has grown and thrived since Pastor Tim Timberlake became the churchs spiritual leaderin September2021. In August 2011, a ceremony was held for its new location, a 7,000 square foot facility on 30 acres near 9A and Baymeadows Road. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. 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. The founders of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in the Jacksonville area, are in a legal dispute with the church that involves allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems injunction. The spokeswoman for Weems said the church's audited financial reports certified that the PPP money was used for purposes the law allowed. 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. But a lawyer representing the trustees says the dispute is none of the courts business, and that having a judge decide a fight about church leadership would violate protections in the U.S. Constitutions First and 14th Amendments. According to a recent investigation carried out by the Nelson Mullins law firm, Weems personally benefited from unauthorized financial transactions and managed the church poorly. We have many groups that meet virtually as well as hybrid groups that meet in-person and virtually. 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. Trustees accuse Weemses of financial misconduct Stovall and Kerri Weems founded Celebration Church in 1998 in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew it to some 12,000 members across several campuses. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The leadership as a whole sucks and the unsaved world lives better. The Asbury Revival Is Over. . When the wolves all surround themselves with other wolves, and are accountable only to those wolves, what should we expect? 0:00 1:22 Celebration Church founder Stovall Weems has resigned from the Jacksonville megachurch "I founded and poured my life into," saying the choice was "absolutely necessary if I am to. What I have witnessed is more pastors are using their authority to control the narrative. 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. There are certain allegations regarding what I can best characterize as spiritual abuse.. These cookies do not store any personal information. Its office and Celebration College are at 10302 Deerwood Park Blvd. The founders of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in the Jacksonville area, are in a legal dispute with the church that involves allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. That suggests a long term pattern, so why is that part only coming out in light of the financial issues? $645,281 owed by Honey Lake Farms Inc. and guarantor Stovall Weems (loan and credit card accounts, plus interest, late charges and attorneys fees), $50,867 owed by Weems Group LLC (credit card No.

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