Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Filed against Florida Church by Former Pastor
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Updated
Oct 11, 2022
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A Florida judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Pastor Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, against the Jacksonville church the couple founded.
Florida Circuit Judge Marianne Lloyd Aho dismissed the lawsuit against the Celebration Church, saying it would “require this court’s involvement in ecclesiastical (and) doctrinal matters.”
In a statement provided to The Roys Report from their attorney, Celebration Church leaders said they were “very pleased” with the judge’s decision.
“(The judge) ruled in favor of the church and dismissed all of the Weemses’ claims,” church leaders said. “We remain focused on ministering to people in our city and around the world.”
The couple filed the defamation lawsuit after an independent investigation found that the couple had taken part in “potentially improper financial practices.”
According to the report, the Weemses were to blame for nearly $3.4 million missing from church accounts, plus some $430,000 in “embezzled profit” from the unauthorized purchase of a church parsonage.
The investigation also said that the Weemses led the church with “rampant spiritual and emotional abuse.”
The Weemses had resigned from their roles and sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, and other claims.
In a statement via email, Stovall Weems told The Roys Report that the judge “did NOT rule on the merits of ANY claim.” Weems added: “The 2nd amended complaint was dismissed as religious business ... The case is just now beginning, not ending.”
The Weemses are also involved in three other ongoing lawsuits. In one, they are suing the church, claiming Stovall Weems was illegally fired from his role as senior pastor.
In another, a bank is claiming the couple defaulted on more than $700,000 in debt owed by their church businesses.
In the third suit, Celebration Church is trying to evict the couple from the church parsonage, where they continue to leave. According to reports, the parsonage cost more than $1.2 million and was purchased without approval from the church’s board of trustees.
In August, the Weemses launched a new church called Awakening Ecclesia.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Vladimir Cetinski
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
