$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. [2] The first services in the new "Celebration Arena" was held November 11, 2012.[3]. It was a blessing when visiting pastors came because at least the Word preached at church that week. Cormier said by email Tuesday that the claims against him are baseless. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, the statement said. Actually Richard it is like apple or any other corporation. 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. Neither allegation is true. These cookies do not store any personal information. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. From hangouts to bible studies, large format to small groups, meeting out at a coffee shop or in somebody's 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. 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.. Too many are yes men and by the time they see something, they realize it shouldve been nipped a while back. It also operates in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Paris, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, according to the website. Four months later, in June 2021, property records show Celebration Church purchased the home from Weems Group, LLC for $1,286,900. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founder and former pastor of Celebration Church is firing back against accusations of fraud and misconduct. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. First Baptist Jacksonville commissioned a study in recent months to figure out what the church must do to update its facilities. Its motion to dismiss states the Constitution doesnt give a secular court the authority to tell a church how to run its affairs. The second phase of the project will include a 1,000-seat youth facility, church offices, adult classrooms and a wedding chapel. 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. as required for Public Notices per section 50.011 (1)(e), F.S. Stovall and Kerri Weems founded Celebration Church in 1998 in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew it to some 12,000 members across several campuses. And people wonder why the nones continue to grow while those affiliated with evangelicalism and Christianity decline. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. 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. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. He told his church that on Friday, Jesus Christ appeared to him at a church service. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Absolutely! 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. 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 Jacksonville-based church will lease almost 40,000 square feet of space adjacent to and behind Books-A . The leadership as a whole sucks and the unsaved world lives better. To view a group that you are a part of, sign in to your My Celebration Account and click the My Groups button below. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Weems resigned from the megachurch in April, but a lawsuit he and his wife, Kerri, filed in Februaryis still active. In the days following that action, Stovall Weems removed one of the trustees and tried to remove two others, court filings show. The 71-page filing said Stovall and Kerri Weems and their businesses have defaulted on payments. 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. According to a recent investigation carried out by the Nelson Mullins law firm, Weems personally benefited from unauthorized financial transactions and managed the church poorly. The Weemses, who have been ARC leaders for more than a decade, are no longer listed as ARC Lead Team members. I left because the Word was replaced with Michael Heiser teachings. They pushed out many of the older, spiritually mature folks because they felt threatened and knew they would be exposed. 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. Therefore, the Church purchased the home from The Weems Group at the $1.3 million price. Example video title will go here for this video, In the News: National headlines for March 1, 2023. 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. A civil court hearing is scheduled for May 20. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. . 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.. It said Honey Lake Farms LLC is different than the nonprofit Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and never had a bank account. 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. 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. Open sin with no sense of remorse or wrong doing ! 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. Our investigation is ongoing and will not be impeded. 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. Founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction that would force the megachurch to recognize Weems as their chief executive officer and settle dueling claims of financial fraud involving hundreds of thousands of dollars. We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God. --Wayland Wiseman, Executive Pastor, Celebration Church. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! The Roys Report reached out to Stovall Weems for comment, but did not hear back. Celebration Church hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation, and it released the findings in late April. We believe true life change happens in the context of community and we welcome everyone to experience this together, no matter what church you call your home! 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. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Gospel for Asia Files for Creditor Protection, MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Way Media Inc. (WayFM). Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15bd6698fd9b5e The Regency Park church will be a closer option for them. Celebration Church is a global, multi-site church located in Jacksonville, Florida. ), 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. He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. Peters words are so true! In written answers to Times-Union questions, Weems's spokeswoman said Tuesday that the home needed updates when it was bought in February and that those had been "contemplated all along by all parties involved." 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., ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. We have many groups that meet virtually as well as hybrid groups that meet in-person and virtually. Asked for comment on the new filing, Wedekind said Tuesday he was looking into how that should be handled. Celebration Church Jacksonville Scandal. After the employee delivered the car as demanded, Stovall Weems told him to find his own ride home, the report reads. Now the church and the Weemses, who are former members of ARCs Lead Team, are caught up in a legal battle even as an investigation is underway into the Weemses alleged misconduct. "I have and will continue to cooperate with the churchs investigation which has included the collection of documentation" about the claim, Cormier said. I just want a humble and hungry people to be around. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Its a shame because at the start, they had the right concept, but absolute power and money corrupt absolutely. And in September 2021, the Weemses officially transitioned from their position as lead pastors at Celebration to founding pastors. 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. The Weemses are currently in a legal battle with the church they founded in 1998. 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. 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.. He said he was "heavily involved" when Lundstrom Ramsey "made the decision to close the Sisseton office." Anyway, just wanted to encourage you that what you did for the Lord there is lasting. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. Other pastors dont spend much time looking after other pastors; it is the board and leadership that witnesses this every week. For this reason, ECFA places much emphasis on strong, effective governance. These are they that Peter says were born for hell before they were conceived ! 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. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. 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 can be a good thing but it takes away their accountability. 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. 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. 77.245.154.222 No PPP funds were utilized in the Turncoin investment. Give me my job and salary back, even if you hate me? Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response, Transfers of church funds to new businesses the Weemses were going to manage, The churchs purchase of a parsonage for over $430,000 more than Stovall Weemss company had paid four months earlier when it bought the property, An advance of seven months salary to Stovall Weems and nine months salary to Kerri Weems even though neither one carried out the duties those salaries were for. The suit and a response from a church attorney trade dueling claims of improprieties, including: Weems and his wife are asking Circuit Judge Marianne Aho for a court order that, among other things, would restore Weems to his lead role at the church the couple founded in 1998; restart his salary with back pay since January; and discard changes to church bylaws the trustees approved then that created a route to suspend him. 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. 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.. Celebration Church @CelebrationChurch_org 46K subscribers Home Videos Shorts Live Playlists Community Channels About LATEST MESSAGE The latest message from Celebration Church. Tim Timberlake was named Weems successor to lead the nearly 12,000-member church. Simply walk into the main office door and let the receptionist know you are there to receive prayer. Hi. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches. 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 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. 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. The Weemses also said theyve been threatened with arrest if they enter church property. Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. 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. Employee delivered the car as demanded, Stovall Weems told him to his! Llc for $ 1,286,900 the $ 1.3 million price what is happening in their church and we a. Services in the context of community leadership as a whole sucks and the unsaved world lives.... Witnesses this every week and behind Books-A update its facilities give me my job and salary,. In touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox ECFA places much emphasis on,. 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