Former Celebration Church employee Jimmy Papia worked at the church from 2008-2015, according to his affidavit. The single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, the report stated. 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. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. Everlasting Punishment! According to news4jax.com, the report includes allegations of financial misconduct and fraud, among others. ", Celebration Church (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union), Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, a statement from the church said. The disputes effect on church operations has been limited because the lead pastor role switched last year to Senior Pastor Tim Timberlake, who conducts services and is the face of the church for many. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. The 2021 PPP funds were completely used up by the Churchs payroll. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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.. Celebration Churchcontinues to stand by the validity and authenticity of the board investigation, he said. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. Stovall Weems was suspended from Celebration Church in January, according to the Weemses suit against the church. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founder and former pastor of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct. For this reason, ECFA places much emphasis on strong, effective governance. ), 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. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. Honey Lake Clinic advertises offering a Christ-centered program that practically heals past wounds and equips people with Godly decision-making skills to transform their lives. Its a nonprofit that operates alongside Honey Lake Farms, founded in 2017 as the nonprofit Celebration Care Ministries Inc. and still partially funded by the church. They feel most alive when they are pouring back into others, and they seek to glorify God through their lives and . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. 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. It's big, with about 12,000 members who attend nondenominational services at around 10 far-flung locations or join in online. I have first hand knowledge of the spiritual abuse within this organization. Kim Roberts is a freelance writer who holds a Juris Doctorate from Baylor University. We offer a wide variety of mens, womens, bible/book study, dinner parties, activity-based groups, and more! 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. 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. No PPP funds were utilized in the Turncoin investment. The trustees didnt have the authority to discipline Weems, according to the Weemses lawsuit. It is so few because people want a relevant pastor and church. The church claims the Weemses used PPP monies to fund a business they managed and to buy cryptocurrency. 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. What is Celebration Church? He also said the Timberlakes had effectively been functioning as lead pastors for about a year by the time the transition became official. These are fiefdoms and not churches. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute with the church they founded in 1998. 77.245.154.222 Connection and life change may take time and can be found in open, honest conversations. To view a group that you are a part of, sign in to your My Celebration Account and click the My Groups button below. 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. Thanks Mark, I feel bad for all the other people who got hurt by the church leaders. 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. 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. A spokeswoman for Weems said the church has about 300 employees. Sometime early this year, AWKNG TV shut down. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Stovall Weems dismissed the trustee in January over the alleged misconduct, according to the Weemses lawsuit. Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. "Celebration Church has been mine and my familys church home for close to ten years. 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. We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God. --Wayland Wiseman, Executive Pastor, Celebration Church. 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 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 civil court hearing on the case between the Weemses and Celebration Church is scheduled for May 31. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches. The filing lists the Weemses, Honey Lake Farms Inc., Weems Group LLC and Northstream Management LLC as defendants. Dan Busby, Longest-Serving President of ECFA, Dies at 81. I think this is wrong. 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. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Details havent been released about financial arrangements mentioned in the suit, but portions of court filings mention them ominously. 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. In February, after Stovall Weems was suspended, the Weemses filed suit against Celebration Church, alleging the church retaliated against them for reporting financial misconduct. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. They appear to be nothing but a footnote written in sand and long forgotten. No PPP funds went to Honey Lake Farms, LLC. I watched the pastor move away from dependence on Christ, to emphasizing the muzzuzah, and hand signs. 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. Neither allegation is true. 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. When Is A Bible Translation Not A Bible Translation? $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 Weemses spokesperson released this statement to News4JAX on Thursday about the purchase of that property: Pastor Stovalls parsonage allowance as approved by the Board of Trustees, was approximately $1.3 million which included the price of the property and expected improvements. From hangouts to bible studies, large format to small groups, meeting out at a coffee shop or in somebodys 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. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. 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 have until June 12 to provide a written response to the court. All of them ! Create an account or sign in to your My Celebration Account to sign up! 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. 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. In addition to financial compensation, the complaint asks for court action "prohibiting the publication or republication of the defamatory narrative and statements.". . Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. 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. City building inspection records don't reflect any permits issued at the house last year. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. 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. ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. And people wonder why the nones continue to grow while those affiliated with evangelicalism and Christianity decline. 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. The filingincluded broad denials of wrongdoing by the Weemses, who launched the church in 1998. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. 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. Celebration Church responded to Weemses lawsuit by asking the court to dismiss it, partly on religious liberty grounds. 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. Their initial lawsuit in March forced into the public what was intended to be an internal investigation by the Board of Trustees. The motion outlines four areas of concern: READ: Celebration Churchs motion to dismiss. Like many ARC churches, Celebration Churchs bylaws require overseers, who must be ordained pastors at other churches. However, in 2020, the Weemses launched AWKNG TV, a Christian not-for-profit streaming network. Its motion to dismiss states the Constitution doesnt give a secular court the authority to tell a church how to run its affairs. A generation ago, Ted Koppel of Nightline used these words to describe the PTL scandal: a decidedly unchurchly rhubarb (I had to look it up and learn rhubarb also meant a noisy dispute. 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. [2] The first services in the new "Celebration Arena" was held November 11, 2012.[3]. 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. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Oddly enough, I can certify that Celebration was listed as an ARC-affiliated church as little as one week before this was published. 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.. Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. Actually Richard it is like apple or any other corporation. Even then, $5 million is still not enough to adequately maintain the campus, he said. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! . These emails establish . 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 Roys Report reached out to Stovall Weems for comment, but did not hear back. 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. Please send all questions about groups to info@celebration.org. Tim and Jen Timberlake serve as the Senior Pastors of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida. $700,000 in improper billing by the trustee; misuse of more than $1 million from the federal governments pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program; and a 50-percent markup over four months on the price of a home a Weems company sold the church as a parsonage. Venus and Jupiter are going in for a nighttime kiss, He proposed 60 years ago, then broke her heart. Less than two weeks after The Roys Report (TRR) published an investigation, revealing that Churchome, Judah Smiths celebrity megachurch, had rehired Braylon, An embattled New England megachurch yesterday announced its closing, following an investigation by The Roys Report detailing allegations of yearslong bullying and, In 2019, Braylon Oliver stepped away from pastoring the Downtown campus of Churchome, a so-called celebrity megachurch with campuses in Los Angeles. Out to stovall Weems was suspended from Celebration church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at Regency. Million is still not enough to adequately maintain the campus, he said WJXT! Honest conversations Churchs bylaws require overseers, who must be ordained Pastors at other.... Comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted study, dinner parties, groups! 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