A Missouri pastor has been placed on leave after church leaders discovered her past employment with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting an internal review.
Missouri Pastor Placed on Leave Over Past Association With Jeffrey Epstein
A Missouri pastor has been temporarily placed on leave following the discovery of her past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On March 12, Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church announced that Rev. Stephanie L. Remington would be suspended for 90 days while an internal review is conducted.
Church officials said the decision was made after learning that Remington previously worked for Epstein as an administrative assistant and temporary property manager on his private island, Little Saint James, from August 2018 to May 2019.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died the following month while in custody.
In a statement to United Methodist News, Remington said she never witnessed any abuse during her time working for Epstein. However, she acknowledged that she was aware of his criminal history when she accepted the position.
“I never saw anything,” Remington said, adding that she worked for Epstein during the final months of his life, after he had already served time for earlier offenses.
Her name has since been found in a large number of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Epstein. According to reports, many of these documents include emails concerning her routine administrative responsibilities.
At this time, Remington has not been charged with any crime.
Church leaders stated they were unaware of her connection to Epstein until recently. According to the Missouri Conference, clergy members serving outside traditional church roles are required to submit annual reports outlining their work.
Officials said no information about her employment with Epstein was disclosed in those reports, and leadership was not informed of her decision to take the role.
Before her time working for Epstein, Remington served in pastoral roles at multiple churches across Missouri between 2001 and 2018. Her previous positions included ministry work at First United Methodist Church in North Kansas City and Summit United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit.
The review process also raised concerns about discrepancies in her reported employment history. Church officials said Remington claimed to have worked with the Wesley Theological Seminary through its Lewis Center for Church Leadership for several years, including the period she worked for Epstein.
However, early findings indicate she was only affiliated with the seminary as a part-time contractor in 2017 and 2018.
The Missouri Conference said both the undisclosed association with Epstein and the alleged inconsistencies in documentation contributed to the decision to suspend her.
“Clergy are expected to uphold the highest standards of moral and spiritual leadership,” the conference said in a statement. “Concerns of this nature require careful and thorough review.”
Church leaders also acknowledged the lasting harm caused by Epstein’s crimes and expressed support for survivors seeking justice and healing.
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