Its office and Celebration College are at 10302 Deerwood Park Blvd. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. Global Senior . JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. A spokeswoman for Weems said the church has about 300 employees. At stake is control of the churchthe essence of a religious controversy into which this court is prohibited from intervening, attorney Lee Wedekind III wrote last week when he asked Aho to dismiss the case. Celebration Church @CelebrationChurch_org 46K subscribers Home Videos Shorts Live Playlists Community Channels About LATEST MESSAGE The latest message from Celebration Church. 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. 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. Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner News4Jax. 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. 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. 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. Hobby Lobby moved to Parkway Shops in River City Marketplace in 2015 and also opened a store at The Strand at Town Center. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. It was a blessing when visiting pastors came because at least the Word preached at church that week. No One Knows. Everlasting Punishment! 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. As thatinvestigation remains ongoing, the church does not intend to make any further comments about it at this time. Administration of the Churchs PPP funds was controlled by the Churchs CFOs. 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. We are confident in Gods plan for Celebration and that ultimately truth will prevail.. Its other Northeast Florida campuses are in Westside-Orange Park, Julington Creek and Amelia Island. King said Full Source owns the building next door. ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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 operations in Europe and Africa. Celebration Churchcontinues to stand by the validity and authenticity of the board investigation, he said. Details havent been released about financial arrangements mentioned in the suit, but portions of court filings mention them ominously. 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). The Weemses are asking the court to force Celebration Church to reinstate them and give them back pay, along with certain other measures. Dan Busby, Longest-Serving President of ECFA, Dies at 81. It is so few because people want a relevant pastor and church. 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. Sherman, I went there for about a 2 years because I wanted to see what my grandchildren were being taught. Email:[emailprotected] This story is another example of unchurchly. Suing to get your power position back, over a church? I think this is wrong. What I have witnessed is more pastors are using their authority to control the narrative. 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 Protection Program (PPP) money as the church alleges in a court filing. Meanwhile, the substantive allegations made in our Complaint about financial improprieties perpetrated by current Board members have gone unanswered. All of them ! 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. . Then the trustee board suspended Weems and hired a law firm to investigate the Weemses alleged financial mismanagement and spiritual abuse. The Roys Report reached out to ARC, asking when the Weemses and Celebration Church were removed and why, but did not immediately hear back. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The couple want to allow for a full and thorough investigation of any and all wrongdoing involving the churchs board of trustees, present and former officers, employees, and other parties and organizations that contributed to the dispute, said a suit filed last month by the Weemses attorney, Christopher J. Greene. For this reason, ECFA places much emphasis on strong, effective governance. They created a cult like following of the pastor, who absolutely designed the organization to operate in that manner. Celebration Church sold the Deerwood Park Boulevard property Dec. 11 to Full Source LLC for $7 million. 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. The Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute with the church they founded in 1998. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. First Baptist Jacksonville commissioned a study in recent months to figure out what the church must do to update its facilities. Our investigation is ongoing and will not be impeded. 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. Neither the PPP funds nor the Turncoin investment also had anything to do with Pastor Stovalls salary advance. 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.. 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. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. We offer a wide variety of mens, womens, bible/book study, dinner parties, activity-based groups, and more! 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. And in September 2021, the Weemses officially transitioned from their position as lead pastors at Celebration to founding pastors. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Honestly? 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. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us. 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. The Weemses denied misusing the PPP funds and the other alleged financial missteps in an extensive statement to News4JAX. He was installed to succeed Stovall Weems months before the legal battle was made public. The Weemses have until June 12 to provide a written response to the court. . No criminal charges have been filed in this case. 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. Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. The report said one witness detailed, often through tears, instances when Stovall Weems personally belittled and humiliated them for minor mistakes or misunderstanding Stovall Weems inconsistent and confusing directives., Another reported that Stovall Weems instructed an employee to drive to a liquor store late at night and deliver a bottle of bourbon to his house because he did not want to be seen purchasing liquor.. Cormier said by email Tuesday that the claims against him are baseless. This isnt Apple, Coca-Cola, General Motors, etc.! Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Shamed, Excommunicated Mother for Refusing to Take Back Child Abuser, Days-long Revival Sweeping Asbury University in Kentucky, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthur Covered Up Pastors Sexual Abuse, Witnesses Say, EXCLUSIVE: John MacArthurs Church Supported Convicted Child Abuser & Pedophile, Records Show, Dante Bowe Posts, Then Removes, Apology for Behavior Causing Split with Maverick City Music, Matt Chandler Steps Aside After Admitting Inappropriate Online Relationship, John MacArthur Pulls Out of Ligonier Conference, Pastor Resigns From Houston Megachurch After Admitting Affair, Televangelist Creflo Dollar Renounces Past Teachings on Tithing, But Questions Persist. According to news4jax.com, the report includes allegations of financial misconduct and fraud, among others. 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.. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Apostolic oversight of the senior pastor is entrusted to church overseers, the suit arguesnot the trustees. 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. Familiar minds think alike. That was nearly completed when the lawsuit was filed, the statement said. To donate, click here. The other part of the churchs investigation concerns the spiritual leadership of the Weemses, Wedekind said. The injunction said that trustee began feeding other trustees and senior church members lies and convinced them that Stovall Weems committed misconduct, leading to his suspension. In 2021, Stovall Weems transitioned out of the Senior Pastor role and into a Founding Pastor role. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. 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 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. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. ", Celebration Church (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union), Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, a statement from the church said. 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. The spokesperson also said PPP funds were not utilized in the TurnCoin investment. The Weemses are accused of spiritually abusing church staff members, Wedekind said. 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. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and coaching high school extemporaneous speaking and debate. 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. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 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. 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. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. They appear to be nothing but a footnote written in sand and long forgotten. It was approved for $2,153,702 on April 6, 2020. But Wedekind estimated more than 50 people worked at Celebrations multiple Jacksonville locations. The investigation found that many witnesses described intense personal anguish and pain caused by working for the Weemses., The investigative report said there were Office Hospitality sheets that were similar to over-the-top green room riders required by celebrities and that they reflected the Weemses immense entitlement and self-importance., Stovall Weems resigned from his positions in April. I just want a humble and hungry people to be around. Since . READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems injunction. 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 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and their businesses have defaulted on payments. What sickens me is these churches got tax payor money and dont pay a dime of taxes. 8, 8A and 9. Childcare options vary per group. 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. Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. I have first hand knowledge of the spiritual abuse within this organization. He told his church that on Friday, Jesus Christ appeared to him at a church service. The Roys Report reached out to Stovall Weems for comment, but did not hear back. They also said the crypto investment was for a retirement fund for church employees, and wasnt made with PPP funds. 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. 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. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. 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. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. The celebration.org site shows that Celebration Churchs main campus is at 9555 RG Skinner Parkway, in the Baymeadows area. I watched the pastor move away from dependence on Christ, to emphasizing the muzzuzah, and hand signs. as required for Public Notices per section 50.011 (1)(e), F.S. Besides defamation, the new complaint accuses everyone being sued of invasion of privacyand publicly disclosing private facts. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15bd6698fd9b5e The spokeswoman said the Weemses never intended to get any money for themselves from that retirement fund. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. 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. 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 is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. [2] The first services in the new "Celebration Arena" was held November 11, 2012.[3]. Pastors Stovall and Kerri never intended to receive any money from this investment. Celebration Church is a member of the Association of Related Churches and aims to lead people to experience a God-First life. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Pastor Stovall Weems, one of the founders of Celebration Church, has resigned. Click to reveal Nichols says the Weemses also personally pledged to repay the loans. Recurring negative changes in unrestricted net assets; Inability to meet and pay financial obligations as they become due; Liquid assets insufficient to cover donor restrictions on net assets and unearned income plus provide sufficient funds to meet operational obligations; Total liabilities in excess of total assets; Financial statement disclosures that describe organizational financial challenges; Failure to meet financial health standards imposed by regulatory or other accreditation bodies; A determination by a regulatory or other accreditation body of a violation of law or standards regarding the use of the organizations funds; An audit, review, or compilation report that indicates uncertainty about the organizations ability to continue to operate as a going concern. Hi. 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. was chosen to succeed Weems as the senior pastor of Celebration Church earlier this year. Celebration Youth is our Middle and High School ministry for students. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Stovall Weems dismissed the trustee in January over the alleged misconduct, according to the Weemses lawsuit. Find more information on upcoming services, workshops, and ministry events. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. 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. 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 Asbury Revival Is Over. 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. 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. 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. Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. Siebeling is a senior pastor at The Life Church, an ARC-affiliated Tennessee megachurch, and Volk runs his own nonprofit Together For Israel. 1:53:02 Know. 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. 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.