Pastor Joel Peebles (Photo Courtesy of cityofpraisechurch.com/)
(Updated 8/15/2015) A Maryland appeals court recently ruled that Jericho City of Praise Church in Landover, Md. must allow Pastor Joel Peebles to return. He was fired by the church’s board of trustees in 2012.
The court’s decision on Aug. 10 put an end to the nearly three-year battle between the mega-church’s board and Peebles over control of the organization. Peebles is the son of the church’s late founders, Apostle Betty P. Peebles and Bishop James R. Peebles.
Rev. Dr. Jasmin (“ Dr. Jazz”) Sculark (Courtesy Photo)
In July, D.C. Superior Court Judge Stuart G. Nash reinstated Peebles and William A. Meadows to the board, ruling they were improperly removed in 2009.
According to a statement released by the board’s attorney in 2012, the appeals court decision does not change the status of the board or its current leadership structure.
However, the decision does leave Rev. Dr. Jasmin (“ Dr. Jazz”) Sculark without a position at the church. She was chosen by the board to be the church’s senior pastor. As part of the court ruling the employment contract between Sculark and the board is void.
Even though Sculark will not be the senior pastor at Jericho, she said she does not plan on leaving the area. Sculark told a congregation of her followers, assembled on Saturday Aug. 15 at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, Md., that she will announce an official decision on her next steps on Sept. 7 – Labor Day. She said she is currently looking for a building and a name to deliver the word of God.
In the meantime, Sculark will attend all three Sunday services at First Baptist, including the 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon services for the next two Sundays on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, respectively.
“God sent me to the DMV area to minister to souls,” Sculark said in a statement. “I was never called to a building, but to reach and win people for the kingdom of God. My thoughts and prayers are with the people and pastor that will give leadership to the Jericho City of Praise Church. Remaining faithful while laboring together with God.”