The trustees didnt have the authority to discipline Weems, according to the Weemses lawsuit. 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. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Tim and Jen Timberlake serve as the Senior Pastors of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Celebration Church hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation, and it released the findings in late April. 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. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. To sign up for a group, please follow these instructions: 3. 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 Central Church Offices are open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. Hey Rob. The first violation, of Standard Two, concerns organizational governance and states that "Every organization shall be governed . I left because the Word was replaced with Michael Heiser teachings. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. The spokeswoman said the Weemses never intended to get any money for themselves from that retirement fund. Stovall and Kerri Weems founded Celebration Church in 1998 in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew it to some 12,000 members across several campuses. Their initial lawsuit in March forced into the public what was intended to be an internal investigation by the Board of Trustees. 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. 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 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. 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., and its former senior pastor, Stovall Weems, have been plagued by scandals in recent months. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. The Roys Report reached out to ARC, asking when the Weemses and Celebration Church were removed and why, but did not immediately hear back. The Asbury Revival Is Over. We highly encourage you to use the advanced search tab under the group search bar to help you find the best group for you. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches. 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.. The Weemses filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief against Celebration Church. Kim Roberts May 3, 2022. If you find a group you have signed up for does not feel like the best fit, we encourage you to communicate that with your group leader. All of them ! Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and their businesses have defaulted on payments. What Happens Now? 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. He was suspended by the governing board earlier this year. ), 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. The dispute involves allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. Therefore, the Church purchased the home from The Weems Group at the $1.3 million price. $400,000) was used for the updating, repairs, and ordinary housing-related expenses such as furniture and landscaping. 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. There are certain allegations regarding what I can best characterize as spiritual abuse.. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. While the investigation consists mostly of reviewing documents, Wedekind estimates a dozen to 15 people have been interviewed as well. Dan Busby, Longest-Serving President of ECFA, Dies at 81. Celebration Church is a member of the Association of Related Churches and aims to lead people to experience a God-First life. It was a blessing when visiting pastors came because at least the Word preached at church that week. A civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. 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. Looking for a one-stop-shop of all the upcoming events happening here at Celebration? 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. 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 Weemses, who have been ARC leaders for more than a decade, are no longer listed as ARC Lead Team members. Pastors Stovall and Kerri never intended to receive any money from this investment. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. 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. The founders of Jacksonville's Celebration Church are suing the church, its trustees and a lawyer for defamation as fallout spreads from a legal fight sparked by Stovall Weems' suspension. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. Cormier said by email Tuesday that the claims against him are baseless. Then the trustee board suspended Weems and hired a law firm to investigate the Weemses alleged financial mismanagement and spiritual abuse. 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). We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God., Spirit flight makes emergency landing in Jacksonville after fire in overhead bin, No charges filed in death of postal worker mauled by dogs in Putnam County, Local Weather: The heat holds as windy becomes the weather word Friday, Weather is 95% favorable for a liftoff tonight, but teams are keeping an eye on weather along Dragons ascent corridor, WWII Veteran celebrates his 100th birthday in Corpus Christi, 'Memories become treasures' | Family, friends pay tribute to Tristyn Bailey at 'Celebration of Life', Loved ones remember DMX at homegoing celebration. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Church officials havent publicly announced the rift with Weems but prepared a statement for members who inquired that said trustees had placed Weems in not good standing while an internal investigation was done. They feel most alive when they are pouring back into others, and they seek to glorify God through their lives and . Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Instead of working for free, the suit says, Cormier billed the church about $700,000 early last year through a string of invoices with vague descriptions of the work performed and included requests for significant payments for work performed on Kevin Cormiers personal property.. 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. Renee Beninate is a Florida native and award-winning reporter who joined the News4Jax team in June 2021. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. 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. Celebration's headquarters, called. Besides defamation, the new complaint accuses everyone being sued of invasion of privacyand publicly disclosing private facts. 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. And He will say to them in that day if judgment! Give me my job and salary back, even if you hate me? Many of those older folks, like me, gave years of our lives to help grow that church, only to be pushed aside. He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. The complaint was time-stamped Saturday morning but only added to the Duval County online court docket after Tuesdays hearing was canceled. "Celebration Church has been mine and my familys church home for close to ten years. Even then, $5 million is still not enough to adequately maintain the campus, he said. According to a recent investigation carried out by the Nelson Mullins law firm, Weems. Great! Its a shame because at the start, they had the right concept, but absolute power and money corrupt absolutely. 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. They appear to be nothing but a footnote written in sand and long forgotten. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? I think this is wrong. The church received $2,153,702 in federal stimulus monies which were later forgiven, data collected by ProPublica shows. Search by Location or Filter by Keyword. The church should not have been funding renovations to a home that was owned by Kevin and not by the church, the lawsuit adds. He said he was "heavily involved" when Lundstrom Ramsey "made the decision to close the Sisseton office." Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. 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. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. 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. The Weemses are asking the court to force Celebration Church to reinstate them and give them back pay, along with certain other measures. The Weemses are accused of spiritually abusing church staff members, Wedekind said. 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. Tim Timberlake was named Weems successor to lead the nearly 12,000-member church. To donate, click here. Simply walk into the main office door and let the receptionist know you are there to receive prayer. The filingincluded broad denials of wrongdoing by the Weemses, who launched the church in 1998. There has been zero, qualified accountability with this group. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. 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. The celebration.org site shows that Celebration Churchs main campus is at 9555 RG Skinner Parkway, in the Baymeadows area. 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. He told his church that on Friday, Jesus Christ appeared to him at a church service. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Where did the PPP money go? Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. The founders of Jacksonvilles Celebration Church are suing the church, its trustees and a lawyer for defamation as fallout spreads from a legal fight sparked by Stovall Weemssuspension from his leadership post. It said trustees "were fully aware thatPastor Weems had not engaged in any misconduct" but "agreed with Cormier's seditious plot to banish" the pastor. He and his wife told News4JAX that they had nothing to hide., We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us, their statement read in part. Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.. One part of the investigation concerns financial transactions made between January and June 2021, when there were no board meetings conducted, Wedekind said. This weekend, Stovall Weems, the pastor of Jacksonville's Celebration Churchwhich has a membership of 12,000decided to forgo a sermon in favor of an on-stage interview with his wife Kerri. City building inspection records don't reflect any permits issued at the house last year. 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. ", Celebration Church (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union), Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, a statement from the church said. So you can expect the bank to try to recoup collateral that may have been put up. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. They created a cult like following of the pastor, who absolutely designed the organization to operate in that manner. Rizzo is the executive director of ARC and missions pastor at Church of the Highlands, another scandal-plagued ARC church. We have many groups that meet virtually as well as hybrid groups that meet in-person and virtually. Another one in the never ending line of evangelical power and money seekers that has (and will) left hurt, traumatized, abused people in the wake. The Weemses have until June 12 to provide a written response to the court. 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. Every organization shall exercise the appropriate management and controls necessary to provide reasonable assurance that all of the organizations operations are carried out and resources are used in a responsible manner and in conformity with applicable laws and regulations, such conformity taking into account biblical mandates, it states. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. No PPP funds went to Honey Lake Farms, LLC. He was installed to succeed Stovall Weems months before the legal battle was made public. The Regency Park church will be a closer option for them. These are they that Peter says were born for hell before they were conceived ! 77.245.154.222 [2] The first services in the new "Celebration Arena" was held November 11, 2012.[3]. At that time, Stovall Weems said the church had laid hands on Tim and Jen Timberlake two years previously, naming them successors to the Weemses as lead pastors. 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. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. $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. Childcare options vary per group. Hi. 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. No PPP funds were utilized in the Turncoin investment. Celebration Arena [ edit] 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. Anyway, just wanted to encourage you that what you did for the Lord there is lasting. He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. 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.. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, and is confident in Gods plan for the church and that ultimately the truth will prevail. Cormier also rented the church another house, but billed the church $137,871 for renovations, the suit said. They also said the crypto investment was for a retirement fund for church employees, and wasnt made with PPP funds. The Weemses also said theyve been threatened with arrest if they come onto church property. That suggests a long term pattern, so why is that part only coming out in light of the financial issues? Details havent been released about financial arrangements mentioned in the suit, but portions of court filings mention them ominously. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. This story is another example of unchurchly. Suing to get your power position back, over a church? Sometime early this year, AWKNG TV shut down. None of the questionable transactions were approved by the trustees, Wedekind wrote, although the Weemses lawsuit said the parsonage was approved by the churchs compensation committee, which included trustees. 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. We encourage you to give the group you have signed up for time to develop and build relationships while having conversations with the group leader about what you may be able to expect from week to week. 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. Stovall Weems was suspended from Celebration Church in January, according to the Weemses suit against the church. Copyright 2023 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved, Lopez-Contera proposes Airport Industrial Park East, V Steak restaurant concept in Ponte Vedra Beach is on hold, Sugar Factory opening delayed again, citing permitting, Historic 323 E. Bay St. approved for $3.3 million renovation, Jacksonville City Council: A bigger Mayo campus, money for affordable housing and health care, honoring Jacobs Jewelers, Rooker sells Williams-Sonoma warehouse for $20.7 million to investor, Advocates, developer use Union Terminal to push statewide historic tax credit bills, After emerging from bankruptcy and the pandemic, Acosta rebrands itself as Acosta Group, Celebration Church build-out at $2.5 million for Arlington campus, Celebration Church building-out in Regency Park, Hobby Lobby leaving Regency Park for Parkway Shops location, Celebration Church adding $2.5 million Westside campus. The Weemses lawsuit says Cormier, the president of a company that installs underground fueling systems, pledged to donate $1 million worth of in-kind services to Honey Lake Farms, where companies that Cormier controls were contracted for construction and land-management work beginning in 2018, before he was a trustee. 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. Timberlake spoke at a service in March, assuring the congregation that the church is OK. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. 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. Celebration Church responded saying this is the latest chapter in a campaign of deception, manipulation, distraction, and abuse of power by Stovall and Kerri Weems against Celebration. Celebrations motion also alleges the couple improperly used over $1,000,000 in PPP loan proceeds to fund an entity they managed and to purchase TurnCoin, a digital security. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches. Hobby Lobby moved to Parkway Shops in River City Marketplace in 2015 and also opened a store at The Strand at Town Center. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. King said Full Source owns the building next door. Absolutely! First Baptist Jacksonville commissioned a study in recent months to figure out what the church must do to update its facilities. I pray under Timberlake, maybe they can return to preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse. 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. This article has been corrected to accurately describe the churchs relationship with ARC. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Celebration Youth is our Middle and High School ministry for students. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. Kim Roberts is a freelance writer who holds a Juris Doctorate from Baylor University. Neither the PPP funds nor the Turncoin investment also had anything to do with Pastor Stovalls salary advance. No contractor is listed. Two former overseers, Dino Rizzo and John Siebeling, resigned in September 2021, and the church argues that a third, Scott Volk, wasnt qualified. Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. They pushed out many of the older, spiritually mature folks because they felt threatened and knew they would be exposed. YOUTH. 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. Sarah Einselen is an award-winning writer and editor based in Texas. To find the best group for you, simply click the advanced search tab under the group search bar and complete the filtered search. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. 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. Join us for Wednesday night services at all Jacksonville locations with hang-time from 6:30-7:00PM and service beginning at 7:00PM. Duval County property records show Weems Group, LLC, which is registered to Kerri Weems and managed by Stovall Weems, according to the State of Floridas Division of Corporations, purchased a home on Shellcracker Road in the Black Hammock Island area of Jacksonville for $855,000 in February 2021. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . When the wolves all surround themselves with other wolves, and are accountable only to those wolves, what should we expect? Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.. Nichols says the Weemses also personally pledged to repay the loans. Our team has spent months praying for and developing a Youth Conference that's goal is to change the lives of middle and high school students, as well as equipping youth pastors, leaders, and teams to walk in all that God has called them to be. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A-Million, according to a site plan by landlord Brixmor Property Group Inc., based in New York. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. An attorney for the church released the following statement: Celebration did not bring this lawsuit and does not intend to litigate it through the media. Apostolic oversight of the senior pastor is entrusted to church overseers, the suit arguesnot the trustees. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Familiar minds think alike. List of the largest Protestant churches in the USA, "Association of Related Churches - Find an ARC Church", "Church Breaks Ground on Future Home - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville", https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=45133, Celebration Church Online, an internet extension of Celebration Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celebration_Church&oldid=1115781155, This page was last edited on 13 October 2022, at 05:08. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. 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. This isnt Apple, Coca-Cola, General Motors, etc.! We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. Looked into what Celebration Church, said the Church must do to update its.. Based in Jacksonville, Florida with other wolves, what should we expect alleged mismanagement. 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