A civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. They created a cult like following of the pastor, who absolutely designed the organization to operate in that manner. The first violation, of Standard Two, concerns organizational governance and states that "Every organization shall be governed . After that, it will be up to the trustees to decide whetheror how muchof the findings to make public. The church claims the Weemses used PPP monies to fund a business they managed and to buy cryptocurrency. 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. Celebration Church Jacksonville ScandalMegachurch Pastor Stovall Weems Said Jesus Came to Him . The spokeswoman for Weems said the church's audited financial reports certified that the PPP money was used for purposes the law allowed. But we also look forward to serving the entire community who may not be familiar with Celebration yet, King said. To see which groups meet online, look for the MEETS ONLINE tag at the top of the group photo or simply search meets online in the group search bar. 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 Roys Report reached out to Stovall Weems for comment, but did not hear back. News4JAX reached out to a spokesperson for the Weemses who said they would not comment on these allegations. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. The second phase of the project will include a 1,000-seat youth facility, church offices, adult classrooms and a wedding chapel. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. 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. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. Rizzo is the executive director of ARC and missions pastor at Church of the Highlands, another scandal-plagued ARC church. When the wolves all surround themselves with other wolves, and are accountable only to those wolves, what should we expect? Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss the Weemses injunction and 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 injunction said one of the churchs trustees was improperly billing the church for construction-type services at its Honey Lake Farms property in Madison County. Open sin with no sense of remorse or wrong doing ! Even then, $5 million is still not enough to adequately maintain the campus, he said. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15bd6698fd9b5e Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. No PPP funds were utilized in the Turncoin investment. Example video title will go here for this video, In the News: National headlines for March 1, 2023. ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. YOUTH. Pastors Stovall and Kerri never intended to receive any money from this investment. The Weems-managed entity, Honey Lake Farms LLC, appears to be part of a web of similarly named organizations surrounding a behavioral health clinic in Madison County created through Celebration five years ago. This is how Celebration planned to use the money, based on data from the lender when the loan was originated: The News4JAX I-TEAM asked a spokesperson for Stovall and Kerri Weems to respond specifically to the allegations of misuse of PPP money. Too many are yes men and by the time they see something, they realize it shouldve been nipped a while back. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. It's big, with about 12,000 members who attend nondenominational services at around 10 far-flung locations or join in online. 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. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute with the church they founded in 1998. 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. Sarah Palin, Bank sues Celebration Church founders for $716,000 in business debts, credit card bills, Celebration Church founder Stovall Weems quits, vows to 'continue our ministry elsewhere', Celebration Church, founder Stovall Weems embroiled in legal dispute, committing fraud, [and] unjustly enriching himself at the expense of the church., Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In addition to $100,000 invested in TurnCoin for Celebration, the report said investments were made on behalf of two church spinoff organizations, Honey Lake Farms and AWKNG, as well as. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. City building inspection records don't reflect any permits issued at the house last year. Neither the PPP funds nor the Turncoin investment also had anything to do with Pastor Stovalls salary advance. The Weemses are asking the court to force Celebration Church to reinstate them and give them back pay, along with certain other measures. But Wedekind estimated more than 50 people worked at Celebrations multiple Jacksonville locations. Absolutely! Celebration Churchcontinues to stand by the validity and authenticity of the board investigation, he said. Like many ARC churches, Celebration Churchs bylaws require overseers, who must be ordained pastors at other churches. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Then the trustees suspended him. The single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, the report stated. Sarah Palin in a libel suit against the New York Times. Siebeling is a senior pastor at The Life Church, an ARC-affiliated Tennessee megachurch, and Volk runs his own nonprofit Together For Israel. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. The letter from the church board removing him said Weems was being removed for "possible improper financial practices and/or failure to fulfill duties and responsibilities as senior pastor." Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss the injunction, News4 Jacksonville. 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. A spokeswoman for Weems said the church has about 300 employees. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Timberlake spoke at a service in March, assuring the congregation that the church is OK. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. 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. The Roys Report has not been able to get any comments on the record about why AWKNG TV folded. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. In February, after Stovall Weems was suspended, the Weemses filed suit against Celebration Church, alleging the church retaliated against them for reporting financial misconduct. This story is another example of unchurchly. Suing to get your power position back, over a church? However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. King said Full Source owns the building next door. 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. 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. personally benefited from unauthorized financial transactions and managed the church poorly. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North Americas biggest church planting organization. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founder and former pastor of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct. A hearing on the dismissal motion is scheduled for May 20. Celebrations board of trusteesrecently suspended Pastor Stovall Weems pending aninvestigationinto certain decisions made by him in early 2021 that were not in the best interest of the church and were not approved by the board. 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. READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems injunction. He also said the Timberlakes had effectively been functioning as lead pastors for about a year by the time the transition became official. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Attorney Gene Nichols, whose not affiliated with the case, reviewed the document. Now, it's publishing the data, Author Kate Zernike dissects the years-long fight for gender equality at MIT. The Weemses are accused of spiritually abusing church staff members, Wedekind said. Celebration Church is a member of the Association of Related Churches and aims to lead people to experience a God-First life. Anyway, just wanted to encourage you that what you did for the Lord there is lasting. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Weemses denied misusing the PPP funds and the other alleged financial missteps in an extensive statement to News4JAX. as required for Public Notices per section 50.011 (1)(e), F.S. 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. This can be a good thing but it takes away their accountability. A generation ago, Ted Koppel of Nightline used these words to describe the PTL scandal: a decidedly unchurchly rhubarb (I had to look it up and learn rhubarb also meant a noisy dispute. 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. He told his church that on Friday, Jesus Christ appeared to him at a church service. 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. Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. The church was affiliated with the ARC as recently as last year. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He said he was "heavily involved" when Lundstrom Ramsey "made the decision to close the Sisseton office." 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. Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For the First Phase, the $15 million building project features a 3,000 seat capacity in an arena-style sanctuary, with broadcasting and audio visual capabilities. For this reason, ECFA places much emphasis on strong, effective governance. In January, Celebration Churchs trustees noticed several large financial transactions by the Weemses and asked for an investigation into potentially improper financial practices, the churchs court filing states. 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. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. The celebration.org site shows that Celebration Churchs main campus is at 9555 RG Skinner Parkway, in the Baymeadows area. So simply put, we sold our building to Full Source, will expand at the Arena, and will move our current functions happening at Deerwood Park there, he said. Celebration Church on the Southside of Jacksonville. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Celebration Church of Jacksonville released a report on Sunday about the investigation into the questionable financial practices of former pastor and founder 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. I pray under Timberlake, maybe they can return to preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The new complaint seeks damages from the church andtrustees Kevin Cormier, Marcus Rowe, Angela Cannon and Jacob William as well as attorney Lee Wedekind III, who represented the church in answering the Weemses original lawsuit and seeking to have the court case dismissed. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! On both sides! Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? We have nothing to hide. Full Source is an e-commerce company that sells office, safety, industrial, janitorial and maintenance supplies as well as discount apparel. She has home schooled her three children and is happily married to her husband of 25 years. I look forward to a solution that honors God above all else. According to news4jax.com, the report includes allegations of financial misconduct and fraud, among others. Was this article helpful? Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. Celebration Church, one of the biggest churches in the Jacksonville area, on Monday released findings from an internal investigation into its founding pastor, Stovall Weems. 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. No contractor is listed. Celebration Church Jacksonville Scandal. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 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 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. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. 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. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, the statement said. Many of those older folks, like me, gave years of our lives to help grow that church, only to be pushed aside. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . He was installed to succeed Stovall Weems months before the legal battle was made 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. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. Defendants launched their outrageous, libelous attack after Pastor Weems had already resigned and completely separated himself and his family from Celebration Church, said the complaint by Tampa-based attorney Shane B. Vogt, who previouslyrepresented former Alaska Gov. The Weems Group LLC purchased the home at $855,000. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The church argued that the couples suit presents the latest chapter in a campaign of deception, manipulation, distraction, and abuse of power by Stovall and Kerri Weems against Celebration.. 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. Dan Busby, Longest-Serving President of ECFA, Dies at 81. They targeted young, impressionable, new believers who didnt have the spiritual maturity to see the leaders for what they truly are. No more needs to be said for a House of Hell reserved for. Tim Timberlake was named Weems successor to lead the nearly 12,000-member church. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To make a donation,click here. Therefore, the Church purchased the home from The Weems Group at the $1.3 million price. . Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner News4Jax. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Gospel for Asia Files for Creditor Protection, MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Way Media Inc. (WayFM). What I have witnessed is more pastors are using their authority to control the narrative. The complaint was time-stamped Saturday morning but only added to the Duval County online court docket after Tuesdays hearing was canceled. Two former overseers, Dino Rizzo and John Siebeling, resigned in September 2021, and the church argues that a third, Scott Volk, wasnt qualified. 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. 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. Give me my job and salary back, even if you hate me? They pushed out many of the older, spiritually mature folks because they felt threatened and knew they would be exposed. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. 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