Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. 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. 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. He also said the Timberlakes had effectively been functioning as lead pastors for about a year by the time the transition became official. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. He said he was "heavily involved" when Lundstrom Ramsey "made the decision to close the Sisseton office." 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. 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.. To make a donation,click here. The findings could be presented to the church trustees as early as next month, he said. 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. The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. 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. 3:1-8. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. $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. The motion outlines four areas of concern: READ: Celebration Churchs motion to dismiss. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. 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. 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.. Hi. 1:53:02 Know. 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. We offer a wide variety of mens, womens, bible/book study, dinner parties, activity-based groups, and more! JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. SEU JACKSONVILLE. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. 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 church received $2,153,702 in federal stimulus monies which were later forgiven, data collected by ProPublica shows. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. We highly encourage you to use the advanced search tab under the group search bar to help you find the best group for you. 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. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. [2] The first services in the new "Celebration Arena" was held November 11, 2012.[3]. Regency Park is anchored by Ollies Furniture Outlet, American Signature Furniture, Bealls Outlet and, in development, Surplus Warehouse. You're invited to join us at Future Conference 2021 from August 4th-6th in Jacksonville, Florida! Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. Their initial lawsuit in March forced into the public what was intended to be an internal investigation by the Board of Trustees. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. 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. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. I have first hand knowledge of the spiritual abuse within this organization. Find more information on upcoming services, workshops, and ministry events. The single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, the report stated. 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 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. 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. Connection and life change may take time and can be found in open, honest conversations. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $125,000 remodel of the space at 9400 Atlantic Blvd., Nos. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. 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! 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. The Central Church Offices are open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. 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. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. The difference between the two prices (approx. Celebration Arena [ edit] . JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founder and former pastor of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct. Join us for Wednesday night services at all Jacksonville locations with hang-time from 6:30-7:00PM and service beginning at 7:00PM. 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. The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money, which was distributed to help businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 and search groups under your location! 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 Weemses, who have been ARC leaders for more than a decade, are no longer listed as ARC Lead Team members. He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. This article has been corrected to accurately describe the churchs relationship with ARC. What I have witnessed is more pastors are using their authority to control the narrative. 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. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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.. . After the initial lawsuit drew public attention, the church released a report that claimed Weems had been committing fraud, [and] unjustly enriching himself at the expense of the church., The new complaint says the report was bogus and that Weems and his wife are trying now to clear their names and expose how the seditionists now in control [of] Celebration Church maliciously and unjustifiably ruined Plaintiffs ability to work in their chosen profession.. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute with the church they founded in 1998. 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. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. Its a shame because at the start, they had the right concept, but absolute power and money corrupt absolutely. . Create an account or sign in to your My Celebration Account to sign up! You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. They targeted young, impressionable, new believers who didnt have the spiritual maturity to see the leaders for what they truly are. 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. 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. I look forward to a solution that honors God above all else. Administration of the Churchs PPP funds was controlled by the Churchs CFOs. The Roys Report reached out to ARC, asking when the Weemses and Celebration Church were removed and why, but did not immediately hear back. 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. He told his church that on Friday, Jesus Christ appeared to him at a church service. Search by Location or Filter by Keyword. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Pastor Stovall Weems, one of the founders of Celebration Church, has resigned. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. A spokeswoman for Weems said the pastor wouldnt have any comment and that the court filing speaks for itself., said a scurrilous narrative and false and defamatory statements, represented former Alaska Gov. 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. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Full Source is an e-commerce company that sells office, safety, industrial, janitorial and maintenance supplies as well as discount apparel. ), 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. Founders of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct sign in to your My account... Owner to let them know you were blocked however, in 2020, the Weemses and their businesses into Celebration... 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