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.. COURT DOCUMENT: Read the complaint filed by First Citizens Bank. The Weemses have until June 12 to provide a written response to the court. The Weemses, who have been ARC leaders for more than a decade, are no longer listed as ARC Lead Team members. The first violation, of Standard Two, concerns organizational governance and states that "Every organization shall be governed . [1] and is led by Senior Pastors Tim and Jen Timberlake. Looking for a one-stop-shop of all the upcoming events happening here at Celebration? 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. Two former overseers, Dino Rizzo and John Siebeling, resigned in September 2021, and the church argues that a third, Scott Volk, wasnt qualified. Wednesday afternoon, he said by email that the new complaint was very disappointing and a distraction from the churchs ministry. . Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! The Roys Report has not been able to get any comments on the record about why AWKNG TV folded. Examples listed on the ECFA website of conduct regarding use of resources that may violate Standard Four include: Tim Timberlake was chosen to succeed Weems as the senior pastor of Celebration Church earlier this year. The Weemses are currently in a legal battle with the church they founded in 1998. The filingincluded broad denials of wrongdoing by the Weemses, who launched the church in 1998. 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. Its always been about the money, down to the precise timing of the services to get as many people in and out. The Weemses are asking the court to force Celebration Church to reinstate them and give them back pay, along with certain other measures. Your IP: We are confident in Gods plan for Celebration and that ultimately truth will prevail.. Currently, that investment is worth more than $1.5 million. 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. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In February, after Stovall Weems was suspended, the Weemses filed suit against Celebration Church, alleging the church retaliated against them for reporting financial misconduct. We have many groups that meet virtually as well as hybrid groups that meet in-person and virtually. Renee Beninate is a Florida native and award-winning reporter who joined the News4Jax team in June 2021. Many of those older folks, like me, gave years of our lives to help grow that church, only to be pushed aside. 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. Thanks Mark, I feel bad for all the other people who got hurt by the church leaders. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. We believe that true life change happens in the context of community. Pastor Drew King, chief business officer of Celebration Church, said the church will open in the summer. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. . Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 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.. And He will say to them in that day if judgment! The Regency Park church will be a closer option for them. No PPP funds were utilized in the Turncoin investment. The church claims the Weemses used PPP monies to fund a business they managed and to buy cryptocurrency. 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 single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, the report stated. . 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. 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. ECFA Standard Four relates to a ministrys use of resources and compliance with laws. Hobby Lobby moved to Parkway Shops in River City Marketplace in 2015 and also opened a store at The Strand at Town Center. List of the largest Protestant churches in the USA, "Association of Related Churches - Find an ARC Church", "Church Breaks Ground on Future Home - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville", https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=45133, Celebration Church Online, an internet extension of Celebration Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celebration_Church&oldid=1115781155, This page was last edited on 13 October 2022, at 05:08. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North Americas biggest church planting organization. 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. 1), $984 owed by Weems Group LLC (credit card No. $400,000) was used for the updating, repairs, and ordinary housing-related expenses such as furniture and landscaping. 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. Cormier also rented the church another house, but billed the church $137,871 for renovations, the suit said. ", 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 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 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. It said Honey Lake Farms LLC is different than the nonprofit Honey Lake Farms, Inc. and never had a bank account. Neither allegation is true. 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 Roys Report reached out to Stovall Weems for comment, but did not hear back. 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. The dispute involves allegations of financial misconduct and fraud. 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. READ: Stovall and Kerri Weems injunction. The Asbury Revival Is Over. The trustees didnt have the authority to discipline Weems, according to the Weemses lawsuit. Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.. 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). Simply walk into the main office door and let the receptionist know you are there to receive prayer. 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. 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. The church included emails between Stovall Weems and trustees that it said backed up its version of events. So you can expect the bank to try to recoup collateral that may have been put up. 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. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The former pastors of Celebration Church owe more than $716,000, according to a lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank. The Church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional and international locations. She has home schooled her three children and is happily married to her husband of 25 years. Details havent been released about financial arrangements mentioned in the suit, but portions of court filings mention them ominously. The difference between the two prices (approx. Celebration Church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems of financial misconduct, fraud and spiritual abuse. . No One Knows. 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. Scandals have lately surrounded ARC-affiliated churches and even the ARC itself, arguably North America's biggest church planting organization. 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. While the investigation consists mostly of reviewing documents, Wedekind estimates a dozen to 15 people have been interviewed as well. Honey Lake Farms, LLC (which is different than the non-profit Honey Lake Farms, Inc.) is a for profit entity that was formed on the advice of the Churchs attorneys at Holland and Knight. 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. To sign up for a group, please follow these instructions: 3. The Central Church Offices are open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. He did not say how many staff members are alleged victims. 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. He says that if Weemses dont pay back what they owe, their personal or business assets could be seized. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Since . Other pastors dont spend much time looking after other pastors; it is the board and leadership that witnesses this every week. To donate, Volk runs his own nonprofit Together For Israel, Former Pastor Accused of Rape Resigns from Churchome After TRR Investigation; Church Official Makes False Claims, Embattled Next Level Church Closes as More Demand Investigation & Audit, Judah Smiths Celebrity Megachurch Hires Man Accused of Rape Over Alleged Victims Objections, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. View our Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Anyway, just wanted to encourage you that what you did for the Lord there is lasting. He even spoke about his experience in a recording of his church's Sunday service, which is posted on YouTube. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. 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. Fisher Koppenhafer Architecture and Interior Design is the architect. 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. Its other Northeast Florida campuses are in Westside-Orange Park, Julington Creek and Amelia Island. 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. 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. 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. Events happening here at Celebration right to know what is happening in their church we..., said the church is based in Jacksonville, Florida with other regional international. For more than $ 716,000, according to the precise timing of the services to as... Regional and international locations church filed a motion to dismiss and accused Stovall Weems and trustees that it backed. Treated fairly are open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm is the architect court filings them! 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