Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. 1:53:02 Know. Timberlake spoke at a service in March, assuring the congregation that the church is OK. No criminal charges have been filed in this case. 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. This isnt Apple, Coca-Cola, General Motors, etc.! Example video title will go here for this video, In the News: National headlines for March 1, 2023. Click here and search groups under your location! News4JAX reached out to a spokesperson for the Weemses who said they would not comment on these allegations. 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. 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. The Roys Report has not been able to get any comments on the record about why AWKNG TV folded. 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. Improper use of more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program loan monies. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The Weemses have until June 12 to provide a written response to the court. This article has been corrected to accurately describe the churchs relationship with ARC. 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. They filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief against Celebration Church, alleging a church trustee was improperly billing the church for construction-type services at its Honey Lake Farms property in Madison County and turned the other trustees against him, leading to Stovall Weems suspension. Celebration Church is preparing to open an Arlington campus at the Regency Park Shopping Center in the former Hobby Lobby space. Pastor Stovall and his wife, Kerri Weems, founded the Jacksonville church in 1998. He was installed to succeed Stovall Weems months before the legal battle was made public. Peters words are so true! The infamous denial of the mega church pastor continues, We reject the utterly baseless and false allegations made against us, Complete lack of leadership accountability once again. Too many are yes men and by the time they see something, they realize it shouldve been nipped a while back. 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. 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. The findings could be presented to the church trustees as early as next month, he said. Kim Roberts May 3, 2022. Their initial lawsuit in March forced into the public what was intended to be an internal investigation by the Board of Trustees. . . We are being retaliated against and have been denied a proper investigation according to long-held church by-laws. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. Nichols says the Weemses also personally pledged to repay the loans. . He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. Celebration is praying for a resolution for all parties involved, and is confident in Gods plan for the church and that ultimately the truth will prevail. 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. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. 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. I have first hand knowledge of the spiritual abuse within this organization. In the days following that action, Stovall Weems removed one of the trustees and tried to remove two others, court filings show. Celebration Church Jacksonville Scandal. All of them ! What Happens Now? 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. Meanwhile, the substantive allegations made in our Complaint about financial improprieties perpetrated by current Board members have gone unanswered. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. A hearing in the case is set for May 20, court records show. The trustees didnt have the authority to discipline Weems, according to the Weemses lawsuit. 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. 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. A spokeswoman for Weems said the church has about 300 employees. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? According to Lambert, the church spends about $5 million per year (37% of the church budget) to maintain the church's properties. 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! Oddly enough, I can certify that Celebration was listed as an ARC-affiliated church as little as one week before this was published. 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. that this dispute is fundamentally a religious one over how the church should be run and how its leadership should be held accountable, the churchs motion argues. Wells without water clouds without rain, they are the foam of the ocean washed up upon the shores ! Tim Timberlake has been leading Celebration Church since last year. Celebration Church Jacksonville ScandalMegachurch Pastor Stovall Weems Said Jesus Came to Him . 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. Stovall Weems dismissed the trustee in January over the alleged misconduct, according to the Weemses lawsuit. 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.. 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. It was approved for $2,153,702 on April 6, 2020. The Churchs 2020 audited financials certifies that the Church utilized the PPP funds in accordance with their legally allowed purposes. The I-TEAM talked with a local attorney about what the newest court filing could mean for the Weemses and their businesses. 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. It said Honey Lake Farms LLC is different than the nonprofit Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and never had a bank account. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. And in September 2021, the Weemses officially transitioned from their position as lead pastors at Celebration to founding pastors. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Celebration Church of Jacksonville released a report on Sunday about the investigation into the questionable financial practices of former pastor and founder Stovall. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. COURT DOCUMENT: Read the complaint filed by First Citizens Bank. As thatinvestigation remains ongoing, the church does not intend to make any further comments about it at this time. 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. Childcare options vary per group. 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. To find the best group for you, simply click the advanced search tab under the group search bar and complete the filtered search. 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. Search by Location or Filter by Keyword. [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. 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. Our investigation is ongoing and will not be impeded. He was suspended by the governing board earlier this year. Stovall and Kerri Weems are in a legal dispute. There has been zero, qualified accountability with this group. For more info on our latest happenings or to get involved, contact us at celebrationyouthjax@celebration.org or visit The Celebration App. Its office and Celebration College are at 10302 Deerwood Park Blvd. Celebration Church @CelebrationChurch_org 46K subscribers Home Videos Shorts Live Playlists Community Channels About LATEST MESSAGE The latest message from Celebration Church. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Pastors Stovall and Kerri never intended to receive any money from this investment. Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner News4Jax. These emails establish . JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The founders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church are suing the Jacksonville megachurchs hand-picked trustees to avoid being ousted over claims of financial irregularities. View our Privacy Policy. 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. Other pastors dont spend much time looking after other pastors; it is the board and leadership that witnesses this every week. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Neither the PPP funds nor the Turncoin investment also had anything to do with Pastor Stovalls salary advance. I watched the pastor move away from dependence on Christ, to emphasizing the muzzuzah, and hand signs. For this reason, ECFA places much emphasis on strong, effective governance. The difference between the two prices (approx. 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. 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. 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