Celebration Church Alleges Misconduct by Founders
In its motion to dismiss the injunction, Celebration Church claims this is the “latest chapter in a campaign of deception, manipulation, distraction, and abuse of power by Stovall and Kerri Weems against Celebration.” It describes how church trustees sought an investigation into the founders’ actions after learning of “a series of questionable financial transactions” they made without authorization in early 2021.
Specifically, Celebration Church points to four concerns. They are related to the purchase of a parsonage for the Weemses, lengthy salary advances “in violation of Florida statute,” large transfers to new for-profit entities the couple planned to manage, and improper use of more than $1 million in funds from the government’s pandemic-related Paycheck Protection Program.
A spokesperson for Stovall and Kerri Weems says the church’s PPP funds, as required by law, “were completely used up by the Church’s payroll.” Also aboveboard, she says, is a $100,000 investment in TurnCoin, a digital security platform, by Stovall Weems. That investment was intended as a retirement fund for church employees and has been documented with its HR department.
Celebration’s motion alleges that the Weemses gradually began to act as if “they owned the church and could do with it what they wanted without the management and oversight required by Florida law and the church’s governing documents.” Stovall Weems, it adds, made decisions “that were not in the best interest of the church and were not approved by the board,” while “desperately” trying to avoid transparency and accountability.
At the same time, the church states that it “has grown and thrived since Pastor Tim Timberlake became the church’s spiritual leader in September 2021.” Celebration Church belongs to the Associated of Related Churches.
Private Matters Are Now Public
On Sunday, Timberlake expressed regret that his leadership transition unfolded this way and that the church’s dirty laundry is now public. “To be honest with you, it’s our board of trustees and our church’s attorneys’ desire to keep those matters private that are now public,” he says. “Not to hide anything, but just because we care about the former leaders. Unfortunately, other parties involved did not desire to do those things.”
Pastor Timberlake, who adds that he doesn’t like to see the church in the news this way, let congregants know that he and his wife, Jen, “aren’t going anywhere” but will “continue to shepherd [and] lead with integrity, godly character, love, honor, and excellence.”
As a leader, Timberlake says, he’s found that “adversity always comes before advancement.” That’s why he believes the “greatest days” of Celebration Church are still ahead of it. “The adversity we’re seeing right now should come as no surprise,” he told worshipers Sunday. “I believe there are still souls that need to be saved. I believe there are marriages that need to be restored. I believe there are families that need to be mended. I believe we still got work to do, amen?”
