Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. There are certain allegations regarding what I can best characterize as spiritual abuse.. Join us for Wednesday night services at all Jacksonville locations with hang-time from 6:30-7:00PM and service beginning at 7:00PM. We have always wanted to have a Celebration Church campus in the Regency/Arlington area of Jacksonville but havent found the perfect location until now, King said by email. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. The church was affiliated with the ARC as recently as last year. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Honestly? 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 standard is designed to help organizations obtain and maintain a governing body that enhances an environment of accountability, maximizing excellence in carrying out the Lords work and minimizing susceptibility to structural breakdown.. 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.. Great! In the suit, they allege trustees suspended Stovall Weems in retaliation for reporting financial misconduct by a church trustee and the churchs former CFO. A civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. Meanwhile, the substantive allegations made in our Complaint about financial improprieties perpetrated by current Board members have gone unanswered. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . According to Lambert, the church spends about $5 million per year (37% of the church budget) to maintain the church's properties. When the wolves all surround themselves with other wolves, and are accountable only to those wolves, what should we expect? Where did the PPP money go? Tim Timberlake was named Weems successor to lead the nearly 12,000-member church. 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. Sometime early this year, AWKNG TV shut down. Timberlake spoke at a service in March, assuring the congregation that the church is OK. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. Many of those older folks, like me, gave years of our lives to help grow that church, only to be pushed aside. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. No PPP funds went to Honey Lake Farms, LLC. One part of the investigation concerns financial transactions made between January and June 2021, when there were no board meetings conducted, Wedekind said. The 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and . 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. 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. Dan Busby, Longest-Serving President of ECFA, Dies at 81. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Wells without water clouds without rain, they are the foam of the ocean washed up upon the shores ! The findings could be presented to the church trustees as early as next month, he said. personally benefited from unauthorized financial transactions and managed the church poorly. 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. Actually Richard it is like apple or any other corporation. According to a recent investigation carried out by the Nelson Mullins law firm, Weems. These are they that Peter says were born for hell before they were conceived ! 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. Other pastors dont spend much time looking after other pastors; it is the board and leadership that witnesses this every week. In addition to financial compensation, the complaint asks for court action "prohibiting the publication or republication of the defamatory narrative and statements.". Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. 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. He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. 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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.. 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. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. The Weemses are asking the court to force Celebration Church to reinstate them and give them back pay, along with certain other measures. The filing lists the Weemses, Honey Lake Farms Inc., Weems Group LLC and Northstream Management LLC as defendants. But Wedekind estimated more than 50 people worked at Celebrations multiple Jacksonville locations. 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! The motion outlines four areas of concern: READ: Celebration Churchs motion to dismiss. 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. as required for Public Notices per section 50.011 (1)(e), F.S. Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse. Like many ARC churches, Celebration Churchs bylaws require overseers, who must be ordained pastors at other churches. That was nearly completed when the lawsuit was filed, the statement said. I left because the Word was replaced with Michael Heiser teachings. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. We are confident in Gods plan for Celebration and that ultimately truth will prevail.. 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). However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. To view a group that you are a part of, sign in to your My Celebration Account and click the My Groups button below. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North Americas biggest church planting organization. The Regency Park church will be a closer option for them. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, the statement said. Missing with ARC (among others) are the requisite qualifications laid out in 1 Tim. Click here and search groups under your location! Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. 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. 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. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. The church included emails between Stovall Weems and trustees that it said backed up its version of events. Sherman, I went there for about a 2 years because I wanted to see what my grandchildren were being taught. 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. 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. Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner News4Jax. 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. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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.. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. My recommendation to them may be to produce something publicly, Wedekind said, whether the full findings or a summary of some sort. Then the trustees suspended him. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Email:[emailprotected] This article has been corrected to accurately describe the churchs relationship with ARC. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founder and former pastor of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct. The church claims the Weemses used PPP monies to fund a business they managed and to buy cryptocurrency. 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. It is a non-operational entity to which no money was ever transferred and in fact, has never had a bank account. 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. Interested in becoming a group leader? 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. . This can be a good thing but it takes away their accountability. Celebration Church hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation, and it released the findings in late April. The second phase of the project will include a 1,000-seat youth facility, church offices, adult classrooms and a wedding chapel. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. 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. He said he resigned because cannot be legally connected to any church in which the leadership abandons the clear biblical principles and spiritual qualifications for spiritual covering, spiritual authority, and ecclesiastical governance and oversight.. The Central Church Offices are open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. The spokesperson also said PPP funds were not utilized in the TurnCoin investment. 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. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. Celebration Youth is our Middle and High School ministry for students. No contractor is listed. Cormier said by email Tuesday that the claims against him are baseless. While the investigation consists mostly of reviewing documents, Wedekind estimates a dozen to 15 people have been interviewed as well. 3:1-8. Another recounted that an employee was instructed to purchase a car for Stovall Weems and deliver it to his home. What is Celebration Church? Attorney Gene Nichols, whose not affiliated with the case, reviewed the document. 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. 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. We are being retaliated against and have been denied a proper investigation according to long-held church by-laws. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Its other Northeast Florida campuses are in Westside-Orange Park, Julington Creek and Amelia Island. 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. 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. 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.. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Weemses filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief against Celebration Church. 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. Are accountable only to those wolves, and are accountable only to those wolves, what we. And accused Stovall Weems and deliver it to his home to long-held church by-laws cookies are absolutely essential the. 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