A Brentwood doctor and former leader of the Remnant Fellowship used millions offraudulently obtained dollars to fund a lavish lifestyle and buy a $7 million home, adding another chapter to the controversy surrounding the church.
Dr. Helen Boerman pleaded guilty in May to submitting roughly $11 million in false claims from 2021 through 2024 to TennCare, Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program through her Brentwood Eye Care business, according to court records obtained by The Tennessean.
The optometrist received $6.9 million in reimbursements before the fraud was detected, said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek of the Middle District of Tennessee. Boerman was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $7 million in restitution.
After Boerman and her husband joined the Remnant Fellowship in 2002, she became a leader, appearing in photos on the church's website and participating in various television programs, one of which was with the Remnant Fellowship and Weigh Down Ministries founder, Gwen Shamblin Lara.
The Remnant Fellowship attracted nationwide attention after the HBO Max documentary "The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin" was released in 2021, months after Shamblin Lara died in a private plane crash over Percy Priest Lake.
Here is what to know about the Brentwood church.
What is the Remnant Fellowship?
The Brentwood-based Remnant Fellowship is "an international community of people who are finding renewed hope, profound love and deep purpose by putting the undiluted teachings of Jesus Christ into practice" and is based on "the Bible-based teachings of Gwen Shamblin through Weigh Down Ministries," says the church website.
"While divorce, depression, obesity and out-of-control children are increasingly the norm these days, at the Remnant we are experiencing healed marriages, increasing joy, restored health, repaired finances and children who love to follow the guidance of their parents," it continues.
Before founding the church in 1999, Shamblin Lara was a dietitian and author who created the "Weigh Down Workshop," a Christian weight-loss program sold to thousands of churches that teaches people to stop overeating by developing a stronger relationship with God.
The church is currently led by Elizabeth Kauffman, the daughter of Shamblin Lara, who took over her mother's duties after her 2021 death.
Where is the Remnant Fellowship and is it still open?
Located at 1230 Franklin Rd in Brentwood, the Remnant Fellowship is still open.
The church holds worship on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Why is the Remnant Fellowship so controversial?
The controversy surrounding the Remnant Fellowship stems from a combination of its religious teachings and high-profile criminal cases involving members, leaders and former members.
Former members, religious watchdog groups and the HBO Max documentary have said that the church operates like a cult by exercising abnormally strong control over its congregation, particularly in regard to weight loss and familial relationships.
The documentary alleged the church's control over its congregation went so far that it determined what congregants ate, what medications they received and who they married.
One of the most significant controversies involved members Joseph and Sonya Smith, who were convicted of felony murder, among other charges, for the death of their 8-year-old son, Josef Smith, whom they abused extensively prior to his death, according to Tennessean reporting.
Other controversies surrounding Shamblin Lara and the fellowship include financial impropriety and a custody battle involving Natasha Pavlovich, who had a daughter with Joe Lara before he married Shamblin Lara, The Tennessean reported.
The HBO documentary that exposed the Remnant Fellowship
Directed by Marina Zenovich, "The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin" uncovers the reported abuse and corruption present in the Remnant Fellowship.
"This is not what religion is supposed to be. This is about power and control. It’s wrong and they need to be called out,” Zenovich told The Tennessean in 2021.
“This is really about helping people get out,” Zenovich added.
Featuring interviews with former members who alleged manipulation, family estrangement and strict behavioral expectations, the documentary's subjects said church leaders exerted outsized control over members' lives. Church leaders publicly rejected the documentary's claims.
"Remnant Fellowship categorically denies the absurd, defamatory statements and accusations made in the HBO documentary,” the church told The Tennessean in an email.
"Despite rumors, we do not body shame anyone, as we know that God created all of us uniquely with all kinds of different sizes, shapes, and weights."
How to watch the HBO MAX documentary
"The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin" documentary is available to stream on HBO Max, where viewers can watch the five-part series examining the rise of Shamblin Lara and the Remnant Fellowship Church.
Liam Adams, Beth Warren and Gabrielle Chenault of The Tennessean contributed to this report.
Peter Burditt covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact him at PBurditt@nashvill.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Remnant Fellowship faces new scrutiny after former leader's fraud case
