IRVINE, Calif. -- Southern California Assemblies of God officials are suing one of their pastors, saying he has not accounted for $4 million set aside for a new church site, according to news reports.

The district council, a regional Pentecostal authority that oversees 41 churches, has suspended the Rev. Barry Weddle, pastor of Century Life Church, pending an internal investigation.

According to the Orange County Register, Weddle says he can account for the money, which he received when he sold his church's Garden Grove property.

Plans were to buy a 46,000-square-foot building in Irvine and merge with Embassy Church, which owned the property.

Weddle told the newspaper he loaned Embassy $1.8 million as a down payment for the property. While the purchase has subsequently fallen through, he said the loan would be recouped when the Embassy site is sold to a new owner.

The Rev. David Gable, a council spokesman, said Weddle has not shown them any records of the transaction.

"We just want to know, where is the money?" Gable said. "Up to this point, (Weddle) was a pastor in good standing."

Weddle, a pastor for 35 years, took over Century Life Church in 1998. The news reports did not indicate when the Century Life property was sold.

Weddle told The Associated Press he has not been notified of his suspension and plans to keep preaching to his congregation, which now conducts services at the Irvine Marriott hotel.

"They haven't given me a hearing or a trial, and they haven't asked any of our members about any of this," he said. "It's a hierarchy that's out of touch with its members and their only concern is for the assets."