Judge considers case involving Celebration Church and former pastors
A judge heard arguments Thursday between attorneys for Celebration Church and its former pastors amid an ongoing legal battle that involves allegations of defamation. After a nearly two-hour hearing, Judge Marianne Aho said she would take the arguments under advisement.
Church group accused of orchestrating Celebration Church takeover calls accusations โunfounded and inaccurateโ
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) responded to a new federal court filing from two local pastors, who accuse the organization of masterminding a conspiracy to take over the church they founded and oust them from their roles.
Federal complaint: Church planting organization masterminded conspiracy to frame pastors
The former lead pastors and founders of Celebration Church filed a new federal complaint accusing a church planting organization and three other pastors of masterminding a conspiracy to take over the church and oust the founders from their roles.
Former Celebration Church pastor releases report he commissioned to dispute financial misconduct accusations
Behind a Jacksonville megachurch, a tangled web of money and power is now at the center of multiple lawsuits.
โI want to clear my nameโ: Embattled former pastor of Jacksonville megachurch sits down with I-TEAM
The News4JAX I-TEAM on Tuesday sat down with the embattled former pastor of a Jacksonville megachurch.
I-TEAM: Former megachurch pastors settle lawsuit with bank over $716K+ debt
The former pastors of one of Jacksonvilleโs largest churches settled a lawsuit with First Citizens Bank over a $713,123 debt they and their businesses owed.
Unsolved murder, megachurch legal fight, embattled surgeon: These are the I-TEAMโs most read stories in 2022
As the year nears its conclusion, here are some of the biggest I-TEAM investigations from 2022.
Former leaders of Celebration Church demand jury trial in defamation lawsuit
In the latest chapter of an ongoing legal battle between Celebration Church and its former pastors, the former pastors have re-filed their defamation lawsuit against the church and are demanding a jury trial.
Judge dismisses defamation suit brought by former pastors against Celebration Church
A judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought forth by the former pastors of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Northeast Florida, ruling that the court does not have jurisdiction over ecclesiastical matters.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church argues in court for dismissal of defamation suit brought by former pastors
For months, Celebration Church has been in the midst of a bitter and public battle with its former pastors, and on Tuesday, a defamation suit filed against the church found its way in front of a judge.
I-TEAM: Former pastors accuse Jacksonville church of taking โcult-like positionโ
The former pastors of Celebration Church accused the church of โtaking a cult-like positionโ on an issue of their church membership in their latest court filing. The pastors also accuse the church of violating their rights to religious freedom.
I-TEAM: Stovall Weems releases future plans amid legal battle with Celebration Church
The pastor who founded one of Jacksonvilleโs largest churches and resigned amid a bitter legal battle has announced his future ministry plans.
Celebration Church founding pastors want court to dismiss eviction notice for disputed property
Newly filed court documents show Stovall and Kerri Weems want the court to dismiss an eviction notice theyโve been served by Celebration Church -- the church they founded in Jacksonville in 1998 and grew into one of the largest in the city.
Celebration Church founding pastors served with eviction notice at disputed property
Celebration Church filed an eviction complaint against its founding pastors, Stovall and Kerri Weems, in a move to get the couple out of a home the church owns on the Nassau River.
Celebration Church issues eviction notice to former pastors who โrefuse to vacateโ
Celebration Church filed an eviction complaint against its founding pastors, Stovall and Kerri Weems, in a move to get the couple out of a home the church owns on the Nassau River.
Founding pastor sues for defamation in wake of Celebration Churchโs investigation
The ongoing legal battle between one of the largest churches in Jacksonville and its founding pastor took another turn Tuesday.
I-TEAM: โOffice hospitality cheat sheetโ outlines former Celebration pastorโs daily instructions
The News4JAX I-TEAM is digging deeper into claims made against Stovall Weems, the founding pastor of Celebration Church.
โLooks like a classic fraud,โ former prosecutor says of Celebration Church report
The News4JAX I-TEAM on Tuesday spoke with a former federal prosecutor who examined the internal investigation into Celebration Churchโs founding pastor, Stovall Weems.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church releases findings of explosive investigation into founding pastor
Celebration Church, one of the biggest churches in the Jacksonville area, on Monday released findings from an internal investigation into its founding pastor, Stovall Weems.
Celebration Church founding pastor steps down amid legal battle
The founding pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, announced Monday heโs resigned from his positions amid a legal battle with the churchโs trustees.
โYour church is OKโ: Celebration Church pastor reassures congregation amid legal dispute
The senior pastor of Celebration Church, one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, took a moment during Sunday morning service to address a legal dispute between the church and its founding pastors.
I-TEAM: Celebration Church in legal dispute with founding pastors
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.