Who is Steven Flockhart? Shelby County pastor who was contestant on 'The Voice' and 'American Idol' arrested for identity theft
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: A prominent Shelby County pastor, Steven Flockhart, who once graced the screens of popular reality shows like 'American Idol' and 'The Voice,' is now at the center of a legal storm as he faces identity theft charges.
The arrest and subsequent charges have left many in the community surprised and questioning the character of a man they had come to know through his ministry.
Pastor Steven Flockhart, who leads 901 Church, was apprehended and charged with identity theft and theft of merchandise ranging between $2,500 and $10,000 on Thursday. November 2.
Flockhart's journey into the public eye began in 2012 when he participated in 'American Idol' and NBC's 'The Voice.'
A closer look at Pastor Flockhart's financial history
According to reports, the charges stem from a 2019 incident in which Flockhart, in collaboration with another church member, decided to open a joint credit card account specifically for the church's use.
The victim in this case disclosed that Flockhart contacted him and requested personal information, which he reluctantly provided.
When the victim confronted Flockhart about the credit card charges, the pastor admitted to opening the card under the victim's name without obtaining the necessary permissions.
Further investigation revealed that the phone number associated with the account belonged to Flockhart, a fact confirmed by the loan holder, Synchrony Financial, and the victim himself.
The court documents also mention previous similar incidents involving Flockhart in Georgia, where he allegedly forged documents and impersonated the account holder of a credit card belonging to a separate church, leading to a lawsuit in 2020.
“He said that it had all been taken care of and that he had made some past mistakes, which is fine, no one is perfect,” said a previous member of 901 Church.
In light of these revelations, some church members have expressed concerns and doubts about their pastor.
Push for Flockhart's removal and church reform
This has led to demands presented to the overseers and elders of 901 Church, with requests for Flockhart's removal as the Lead Pastor and changes to the church's bylaws.
“I was one of multiple people that co-signed a document that we sent out to the church body detailing the corruption, and after that, we were removed,” a previous member of the church said.
One former member of 901 Church commented on the situation, stating, “It was more about the intake of money and not for people’s relationship with Jesus Christ, you know,”
901 Church released a statement acknowledging the allegations while expressing their belief in divine vindication.
The statement read, "While we do not find the allegations factual, we believe that vindication is from God and firm in His sovereignty and truth."
According to the website of 901 Church, the pastor is responsible for managing two facilities situated in the suburban areas of Millington and Bartlett within the Memphis region.
The church intends to continue its services and uphold its mission of reaching people and changing lives.
Flockhart is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, November 6, where the legal proceedings will determine the future course of events.