To donate, click here. 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.. 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.. What Happens Now? Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North Americas biggest church planting organization. ", Celebration Church (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union), Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, a statement from the church said. Timberlake said in his sermon that the church is praying for a . 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 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. No contractor is listed. Sometime early this year, AWKNG TV shut down. Simply walk into the main office door and let the receptionist know you are there to receive prayer. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. 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! This is serious 2nd degree and 3rd degrees [sic] criminal felony behavior, added the email, which said the message was notice to Cormier of me dismissing you immediately from the trustees. 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. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. 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. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. The Roys Report reached out to ARC, asking when the Weemses and Celebration Church were removed and why, but did not immediately hear back. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Email:[emailprotected] It said Honey Lake Farms LLC is different than the nonprofit Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and never had a bank account. 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.. We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us. That suggests a long term pattern, so why is that part only coming out in light of the financial issues? 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. The church included emails between Stovall Weems and trustees that it said backed up its version of events. 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. SEU JACKSONVILLE. Stovall and Kerri Weems released a statement to News4JAX on Wednesday: We could never have imagined that the church we started and nurtured for nearly 25 years would be seized by individuals whom we believe are prioritizing their individual interests in power and money ahead of their duties to Celebration Church and its mission. 1), $984 owed by Weems Group LLC (credit card No. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I left because the Word was replaced with Michael Heiser teachings. One part of the investigation concerns financial transactions made between January and June 2021, when there were no board meetings conducted, Wedekind said. The Asbury Revival Is Over. No PPP funds went to Honey Lake Farms, LLC. The first violation, of Standard Two, concerns organizational governance and states that "Every organization shall be governed . Pastors Tim and Jen have a heart for God's people and equipping them with the tools to transform their lives from the inside out. To make a donation,click here. 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. The Weemses are currently in a legal battle with the church they founded in 1998. Two former overseers, Dino Rizzo and John Siebeling, resigned in September 2021, and the church argues that a third, Scott Volk, wasnt qualified. 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. Celebration Church is no longer listed as a member of ARC, either. 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. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. Hobby Lobby moved to Parkway Shops in River City Marketplace in 2015 and also opened a store at The Strand at Town Center. Siebeling is a senior pastor at The Life Church, an ARC-affiliated Tennessee megachurch, and Volk runs his own nonprofit Together For Israel. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. It was approved for $2,153,702 on April 6, 2020. Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. Since . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The church claims the Weemses used PPP monies to fund a business they managed and to buy cryptocurrency. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $125,000 remodel of the space at 9400 Atlantic Blvd., Nos. 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. 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. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. 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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.. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God. --Wayland Wiseman, Executive Pastor, Celebration Church. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. 2), $18,989 owed by Northstream Management Group LLC (credit card), 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 Paycheck Protection Program, spokesperson for the Weemses told the News4JAX I-TEAM, assuring the congregation that the church is OK. The 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and . The filing lists the Weemses, Honey Lake Farms Inc., Weems Group LLC and Northstream Management LLC as defendants. There are certain allegations regarding what I can best characterize as spiritual abuse.. 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. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. 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. personally benefited from unauthorized financial transactions and managed the church poorly. To find the best group for you, simply click the advanced search tab under the group search bar and complete the filtered search. 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. was chosen to succeed Weems as the senior pastor of Celebration Church earlier this year. Fisher Koppenhafer Architecture and Interior Design is the architect. Stovall Weems was suspended from Celebration Church in January, according to the Weemses suit against the church. 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. The 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and their businesses have defaulted on payments. He says that if Weemses dont pay back what they owe, their personal or business assets could be seized. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches. The second phase of the project will include a 1,000-seat youth facility, church offices, adult classrooms and a wedding chapel. These are they that Peter says were born for hell before they were conceived ! Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15bd6698fd9b5e We highly encourage you to use the advanced search tab under the group search bar to help you find the best group for you. 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. The church alleges in a response to the Weemses suit that trustees discovered millions of dollars misspent through several large financial transactions the Weemses made in 2021 without telling the trustees. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. Great! According to a recent investigation carried out by the Nelson Mullins law firm, Weems. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. The church was affiliated with the ARC as recently as last year. . Groups that do have childcare options will have that listed in their groups description. Stovall Weems was seeking restoration of his salary and backpay. 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. 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. Cormier also rented the church another house, but billed the church $137,871 for renovations, the suit said. 8, 8A and 9. 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 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. Sherman, I went there for about a 2 years because I wanted to see what my grandchildren were being taught. I look forward to a solution that honors God above all else. Neither the PPP funds nor the Turncoin investment also had anything to do with Pastor Stovalls salary advance. 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. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. Open sin with no sense of remorse or wrong doing ! The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. According to Lambert, the church spends about $5 million per year (37% of the church budget) to maintain the church's properties. 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 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. 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. He said Celebration Church has a large number of congregants in the Arlington area who now drive to the main location on RG Skinner Parkway. And He will say to them in that day if judgment! 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. Honestly? 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. After the employee delivered the car as demanded, Stovall Weems told him to find his own ride home, the report reads. The church released a 22-page investigative report on. He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. News4JAX reached out to a spokesperson for the Weemses who said they would not comment on these allegations. 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. Peters words are so true! It is so few because people want a relevant pastor and church. The Weemses also said theyve been threatened with arrest if they come onto church property. YOUTH. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. Celebration Church responded to Weemses lawsuit by asking the court to dismiss it, partly on religious liberty grounds. They also said the crypto investment was for a retirement fund for church employees, and wasnt made with PPP funds. What is Celebration Church? Please send all questions about groups to info@celebration.org. READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems injunction. Sarah Palin in a libel suit against the New York Times. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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