Renee Beninate is a Florida native and award-winning reporter who joined the News4Jax team in June 2021. Celebration Church's mission is for God's family to pursue God's Kingdom. For more. The founding pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, announced Monday he's resigned from his positions amid a legal battle with the church's trustees. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Updated: 4:29 PM EDT March 20, 2022. . The pastor of that ministry later told Celebration staff that Weems had told him to spend the money on TurnCoin as part of Weemss legacy investment. After AWKNG shut down it refused to transfer the funds to the church. The report states that Stovall made the decision to transfer the funds to the account of Honey Lake Farms, one of the entities he owned, as well as the churchs Missions account. The initial resignation letter says that the family would continue our ministry elsewhere, placing ourselves under the proper accountability and oversight of a council of apostolic pastors and elders in our city., On Instagram, Weems posted a note from himself and his wife telling followers, we love you and miss you very much. Action News reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for comment and requested their information on racial profiling. The spokesperson said then that the TurnCoin purchase was part of creating a retirement fund for longtime employees of the church, which opened in 1998. The News4JAX I-TEAM reached out to Kevin Cormier for a response to the allegations, and havent heard back. Meanwhile, on February 9, 2021, Weems Group, LLC of which Weems is the sole member and manager purchased a home on Shellcracker Road on the Nassau River, according to the investigation. Stovall Weems appointed Cormier as a church trustee in January 2021 and he was confirmed in June 2021. And where is the oversight? He then sold the house to the church for about $400,000 more. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. PREVIOUS STORY: Pastor resigns amid lawsuit with Celebration Church. . We remain focused on advancing the kingdom of God. --Wayland Wiseman, Executive Pastor, Celebration Church. Please click here to learn how. The churchs purchase of the Shellcracker property was not disclosed to or approved by the board, according to the investigation. Anthony G. St. Augustine, FL 19 137 607 3/15/2022 Pastor Tim Timberlake does an outstanding job preaching with grace, anointing and is unapologetic. STORY: Scooter driver killed in crash on Atlantic Boulevard. How can they claim they conducted an investigation into improper financial transactions without a financial audit? The trustees analyzed the churchs weakening financial position in December 2021 and discovered the Weemses made several large financial transactions earlier in 2021 without notice to or authorization from the board, according to the churchs motion. One witness allegedly reported that she had to beg for one hour per day, in which she was not required to immediately respond to text messages. I shall not and cannot be legally connected to any church in which the leadership abandons the clear biblical principles and scriptural qualifications for governance and oversight, the letter said. We made many mistakes. In an eviction notice dated April 26, an attorney for Celebration Church also said the Weemses have been storing taxidermy and other personal items at the churchs Regency location and those items needed to be removed by the end of May. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The report says Weems owes nearly $3.4 million dollars in misappropriated funds. In September 2020, the report claims Weems spun off several ministries as standalone corporate entities and had requested a $14 million credit line to fund real estate purchases. The report said the churchs cash balance dropped from $9 million in October 2020 to $6 million in December 2020 to $2 million in March/April 2021. Were so glad youre here! ), $100,000 to invest in TurnCoin, a digital currency with which fans can invest in talented people in all passions of life, on behalf of the church. Accept the resignation of Stovall and Kerri Weems as employees of Celebration effective April 15, 2022 without further compensation or benefits, Pursue the removal of Stovall and Kerri Weems from any positions of authority relating to the church, Honey Lake Farms, Honey Lake Clinic and AWKNG, Require Stovall and Kerri Weems to account for and return to the church all funds misappropriated by them, Remove Stovall and Kerri Weems from the parsonage and sell the property, Require Northstream Management, Habitat for Wholeness, Honey Lake Farms and AWKNG to repay all receivables and loans made by the church to those entities, Report these findings to the appropriate authorities to determine whether criminal charges should be brought, Engage in the Christian Conciliation Process outlined in Celebrations bylaws, a new Instagram page, Stovall Weems Ministries. The home is on Shellcracker Road in the Black Hammock Island area of Duval County. An attorney for Celebration Church said the Weemses attorney sent him a letter on May 13 that stated the Weemses were allowed to live in the Shellcracker home until their deaths. Thank goodness you came to church today and not Saturday night because in trying to describe what I've experienced it was just difficult for me to put into the right language. The report said Weems filed a financial statement wrongly listing a $1.4 million loan from the church as a debt that was owed to Honey Lake Farms, and that when a bank loan officer talked to the church about it, Weems told church accountants to simply write off the money the church was owed. Search by Location or Filter by Keyword. The investigation determined that as the church became more successful, the lavishness of the Weemses lifestyle also increased. It said there were private charter flights to exotic locations, a full house staff to assist in maintaining their mansions, and personal assistants required to attend to the Weemses every demand. Through a spokesperson, Weems answered that the charges were concocted by the trustees and their lawyer as a character assassination without real basis., Weems, who resigned this month from the church hes suing, continued: As I have said all along, I have nothing to hide. Weems never presented the potential sale of the Glen Kernan parsonage to the board, according to the investigation, and Celebration kept the sale proceeds. As I have said all along, I have nothing to hide. The church said Stovall Weems signed the closing documents as the seller (Weems Group, LLC) and the buyer (Celebration Church). It said the property was a retirement home for Weems and was never intended to be parsonage. The injunction said on January 7, 2022, Stovall Weems was compelled to remove trustees as a result of their intent and within an hour, the trustees sent Weems a letter notifying him that he was not in good standing and was suspended as the churchs senior pastor as a result of possible improper financial practices and/or failure to fulfill duties and responsibilities as Senior Pastor.. That has not changed. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Megachurch head pastor Stovall Weems has resigned from Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, as he continues to pursue a lawsuit alleging he was illegally suspended from his position by the church's governing board earlier this year. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. . The churchs attorney said thats incorrect and the Weemses have no right, title or interest in or to the Shellcracker property.. The News4JAX Morning Show team brings you breaking news from overnight -- local, national and international stories, as well as weather and traffic to start your day. In March, a Weems spokesperson told the Times-Union that the TurnCoin investment did not utilize any of the churchs PPP funds.. SKINNER PARKWAY JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256 Get Directions WESTSIDE/ORANGE PARK CAMPUS PASTORS ROBERT AND CARMEN BASS SERVICE SUNDAY MORNINGS // 10:00AM PHONE 904.737.1121 EMAIL $150,000 was used to buy TurnCoin on behalf of Honey Lake Farms and $150,000 was used to buy TurnCoin on behalf of AWKNG. "I want to talk to you about the experience I had Friday night where I met and I saw our risen Savior," Weems said in a recording of his church's Sunday service posted on YouTube. Weems and his wife, Kerri, have been locked in a court fight with the board of trustees over the trustees decision to suspend him because of suggestions of financial irregularities. The CFO told Weems that because the church owned the property, he was not entitled to the sale proceeds, according to the investigation. This is a couple people trying to cover up their own fraudulent behavior and really an evil scheme to seize power., Twenty unnamed witnesses used words like narcissistic to describe the man they said created a culture of fear and intimidation,, One witness recalled an employee being told to buy him a bottle of bourbon because he did not want to be seen purchasing liquor. Another witness recalled someone being told to buy Weems a car and deliver it to him then find his own way home., PREVIOUS STORY: Pastor resigns amid lawsuit with Celebration Church. Several Jacksonville churches participated. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Amazing outreach programs! Attorneys for the church said they interviewed more than 20 current and former senior leadership members, staff, former trustees, other advisors and consultants. The investigation said the Weemses attempted to justify keeping the profit because the money was needed for improvements. Meantime in 2021, Stovall Weems transitioned out of the Senior Pastor role and into a Founding Pastor role. An investigative report prepared by Nelson Mullins, a U.S. law firm and lobby group hired by the church, was made public on the church's website days later. talks faith in Jesus, the problem with Black Lives Matter, being a victim of 'cancel culture', New Yorker satire headline mocks those who 'search the Bible' for Gods views, Barry Black: America's first black Senate chaplain says this Bible verse saved him from a life of crime, Heaven will be diverse. Celebration Church members have a right to know what is happening in their church and we have a right to be treated fairly.. At Celebration Church, we prioritize Jesus mission to spread the gospel. 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 Weems and his wife Kerri Weems. 130 talking about this. ", We look forward to seeing many of you since we will remain in Jacksonville where we will continue to pastor, preach and minister Gods Word, said the message. We cannot find one thing in that entire report that would be true, Pastor Stovall Weems told Action News Jaxs Robert Grant. The conduct brought Celebration "to the brink of insolvency," the report said, listing the church's unpaid accounts receivable at more than $3.3 million. So thank God I have a wife who has a great command of human language," he said to cheers from the congregation. The investigation said the COVID-19 pandemic led to a complete disruption of the churchs operations. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. To find a way forward, she must look to the oldest stories of all for guidance. If questioned, Weems would respond by saying that this direction was given to him by God through the Encounter, said the investigative report. Join the team "Our God, our mountain, this mighty fortress will win. The investigation revealed Weems purchased their home on Shellcracker Road on the Nassau River for $855,000 through his personal LLC. The church released a 22-page investigative report on its . The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into what Celebration Church received in PPP money. MORE: Founding pastor sues for defamation in wake of Celebration Churchs investigation. Supporters and Misabiko said since Dr.Martin LutherKingJr. stood up for social injustice they will continue to do the same. Celebrations board of trusteesrecently suspended Pastor Stovall Weems pending aninvestigationinto certain decisions made by him in early 2021 that were not in the best interest of the church and were not approved by the board. The internal investigation also outlined what it calls spiritual and emotional abuse of staff. "The first thing that I was taken back with is like Jesus' personality. The report said Weems made dangerous solo decisions about church finances that saddled Celebration with serious debts. Welcome Home! The injunction said Kevin Cormier, who later became one of the churchs trustees, told Stovall Weems in 2018 that he intended to donate $1 million of in-kind construction-type services to the churchs mission at Honey Lake Farms, a non-profit in Madison County that was founded and initially funded by the church. stanislaus county jail mugshots, holy catholic church anglican rite, Allegations, and havent heard back transfer the funds to the investigation consent! 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