KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — A Missouri pastor has been placed on temporary leave after church officials confirmed she previously worked for and managed the private island of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for nearly a year.
Rev. Stephanie L. Remington was suspended last week by Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church pending a formal review by the episcopal office.
Church officials said they only recently became aware of her prior employment ties to Epstein.
Work on Little Saint James Island
According to reporting cited by United Methodist News, Remington worked as Epstein’s administrative assistant and temporary property manager on his private island, Little Saint James, from August 2018 to May 2019.
Epstein, a disgraced financier and registered sex offender, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died the following month while in custody.
Remington told UM News that she never witnessed abuse while working on the island.
“I never saw anything,” she said, adding that she knew Epstein during the final nine months of his life, after he had already served time related to earlier charges.
She acknowledged that she was aware Epstein was a registered sex offender when she accepted the position.
Name Appears in Federal Documents
Reports indicate that Remington’s name appears in approximately 1,800 documents connected to the Epstein case, many of which involve routine administrative communications about daily operations.
At this time, Remington has not been charged with any crime.
Her suspension is temporary, set for 90 days while church leadership conducts a review.
Church Leadership Responds
In a statement, the Missouri Conference said it had no prior knowledge of Remington’s association with Epstein.
“The Missouri Conference had no knowledge of the individual’s association with Mr. Epstein,” the statement read. Officials noted that clergy serving in extension ministry positions operate outside of traditional local church appointments and submit annual paperwork to the Conference regarding their ministry roles.
Church leaders stated that no documentation previously submitted by Remington disclosed her employment with Epstein.
“The Bishop or district superintendent were not contacted about the individual’s interest in or acceptance of the Epstein-related position,” the statement added.
Questions Over Employment Records
Further review revealed discrepancies in Remington’s reported employment history.
According to the Missouri Conference, Remington indicated in annual paperwork that she performed extension ministry through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary during the period she worked for Epstein, and continued to report that affiliation in subsequent years.
However, church officials said early findings showed she had only served as a part-time contractor at the seminary in 2017 and 2018, not during the full period she claimed.
The alleged documentation inconsistencies, combined with her prior employment on Epstein’s island, led to the suspension.
Prior Ministry in Missouri
Before working for Epstein, Remington served in pastoral roles across Missouri from 2001 through 2018.
Her ministry history includes service at:
- First United Methodist Church in North Kansas City
- Summit United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit
Church officials emphasized that clergy are expected to uphold high standards of leadership and accountability.
“Clergy are called to uphold the highest standards of spiritual and moral leadership. Concerns of this nature are taken seriously and require careful review,” the Missouri Conference stated.
Officials also acknowledged the broader harm associated with Epstein’s crimes and expressed continued support for survivors.
Investigation and Review Ongoing
The episcopal review process remains underway. Church leaders have not indicated whether additional disciplinary action will follow after the 90-day suspension period.
Remington has not publicly commented beyond her prior statements to UM News.
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