The pastor of a multi-site church in Memphis, Tenn., who previously was a contestant on “American Idol” and “The Voice,” has been arrested on multiple felony theft-related charges.
Steven “Stevie” Flockhart, lead pastor of 901 Church, fue detenido on Nov. 2 on two felony counts, including identity theft and theft of merchandise valued at $6,410, according to an affidavit in the case.
Flockhart bonded out on Nov. 3, paying $2,000 in fees. Yesterday, Flockhart, apareció at a preliminary hearing at Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., but did not enter a formal plea.
In services last Sunday, Paul Taylor, a member of the board of overseers of 901 Church and senior pastor of Rivers Crossing Church in Ohio, announced that Flockhart is taking a leave of absence “until this is resolved.”
“We do not believe these allegations will be true based on the evidence that we have,” added Taylor in a recording obtained by El Informe Roys (TRR). “So, this is not an admission of guilt or innocence. This is simply us allowing your pastor to get some time away, because he’s been through literal hell on earth.”
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According to the police affidavit, Mark McCall, the church’s former finance director, stated that Flockhart opened a PayPal credit card account in December 2018, using McCall’s name without McCall’s permission. Flockhart then reportedly ran up $6,410 in charges on the account. McCall told police he discovered what happened through a credit report.
In his announcement to 901 Church, Taylor said the church is conducting an internal investigation, which is ongoing, but refuted the criminal charges. He said church board meeting minutes from 2019 indicate the existence of a PayPal credit card account for church expenses, mutually approved by Flockhart and McCall.
“He didn’t steal anything,” said Taylor about McCall. “Pastor Stevie had Mark McCall’s permission to open the PayPal account and did not steal his identity to do so. And no personal charges were made at that time. (These) items were purchased for the church.”
However, John Craig, who is among a group of former members who left the church in recent months, said he was surprised by the public statement. “They essentially said, we do not take these allegations to be true,” Craig told TRR. “And that’s not how the legal system works. There has to be some basis, or the district attorney would dismiss the case.”
Craig, who works as an insurance adjuster, said that his friend, McCall, has been clear in describing the situation. McCall reportedly told him that he opened a credit card account in summer 2018 on behalf of the church, at Flockhart’s request. However, a second credit account was opened in December that year.
“There are actually two credit card accounts being discussed,” said Craig. “Stevie opened up another credit card using Mark’s credentials and unbeknownst to Mark. (But) I think Paul Taylor only knows the narrative that Stevie tells him.”
TRR reached out to Taylor, but he declined to comment.
McCall served as the church finance director, a volunteer position, when the church was founded in early 2015 to summer 2022. At the time, the church functioned as the Memphis-area campus of New Season Church in Hiram, Ga., a congregation led by Flockhart’s father, Steve Flockhart Sr.
The elder Flockhart ha sido objeto de escrutinio in recent months for his close ties to disgraced former SBC president Johnny Hunt, including hosting a men’s conference led by Hunt at his Georgia church. Hunt has been publicly accused of sexually assaulting another pastor’s wife.
In 2018, Stevie Flockhart was installed as pastor of New Season Church’s satellite campus. Months later, the Memphis-area church formally split from its parent congregation and became 901 Church. This past May, 901 Church opened a second campus in nearby Bartlett.
901 Church is part of The Extraordinary Church Collective, a church-planting network led by Taylor.
Flockhart is known for his past appearances on national television singing competition shows. In 2010, he appeared on the ninth season of American Idol but did not advance past auditions. Two years later, Flockhart appeared as a contestant on The Voice.
“I think when his singing career didn’t take off the way he wanted to, Stevie saw church as an opportunity,” said Craig. “He grew up in it and knew the kind of respect and exaltation there was to being a lead pastor, especially in the South. He had the charisma to do that.”
TRR reached out to Flockhart but did not receive a response.
De acuerdo a court documents, Flockhart has committed forgery before. While serving as lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Woodstock, Ga., Flockhart reportedly “signed off on names of others (some members of his church)” on a property lease.
In January 2020, Flockhart pleaded guilty to multiple counts of forgery. Court records state that Flockhart was required to pay $12,690 in restitution. The case was resolved in November 2020.
The next hearing in Flockhart’s current criminal case at Shelby County Criminal Court has been set for November 20, according to the court clerk’s office.
Periodista independiente Josh Shepherd escribe sobre fe, cultura y políticas públicas para varios medios outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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7 Respuestas
I’d like to see the original plea agreement and all of the terms of probation (not just restitution) from his forgery case. If he violated the terms of probation, Flockhart could be looking at some jail time. Needless to say, his credibility as a pastor or any ministry role is gone.
Assuming he doesn’t go to jail, he will just lie low for a few months. Then find another congregation of gullible rubes to fleece (there are plenty of them as it is most of the Christian Church in the US). Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
What an uplifting message. It’s refreshing to see a pastor engage in respectful crimes like theft and forgery while keeping his hands of children.
True. Because theft and forgery are such victimless crimes. /sarc
It’s truly remarkable how many of these shady, opportunistic clergy seem to be related to each other… Christian crime families, I guess.
The through-line in Stevie’s criminal actions seems to be arrogance. He acts as if he has a right to act on behalf of others for the benefit of his ministry without their consent. “Sign a lease here, open a PayPal account there: It’s Ok because I’m know that’s what those guys would want for God’s Kingdom anyway.” If Stevie is a charismatic guy who is puts on a good show in the pulpit–and it sounds as if he is–then he won’t lack for future opportunities to preach. All he has to do is begin stumping around on the “when they persecute me they are really persecuting you” message. That’s like catnip for evangelical audiences. The US evangelical church is corrupt that way.
Ah yes, the very popular persecution card to play to help with the DARVO. And of course, it silences any potential questions, opposition, etc. from the handful of principled Christians who are not mind-numbed sheep. After all, their resistance would rock the boat, and enable the “persecution”. The Christian nationalists have that down pat….