The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church has formally suspended Rev. Stephanie Remington following revelations that she served as a property manager for late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The suspension, effective March 12, 2026, comes after church officials became aware of Remington’s prior employment on Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little St. James.
The conference confirmed the 90-day suspension is pending an episcopal review. While Remington has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, the church cited a failure to disclose the association in mandatory annual filings.
Unreported Ties to the Epstein Estate
According to an official statement from the Missouri Conference, the church was blindsided by Remington’s professional history with Epstein, which reportedly spanned from 2018 to 2019.
Under the United Methodist Book of Discipline, clergy serving in “extension ministries”—positions outside a traditional local church—are required to report their employment settings to the Conference. Officials state that no information regarding Epstein was ever disclosed to Bishop Robert Farr or district superintendents.
Key Employment Timeline:
- 2011–2016: Lead Pastor at First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City.
- 2017–2018: Part-time contractor for Wesley Theological Seminary.
- Aug–Dec 2018: Administrative Assistant to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Jan–May 2019: Property Manager of Little St. James, Epstein’s private island.
Discovery in the “Epstein Files”
The connection came to light through the work of Elizabeth Glass Turner, a researcher and licensed local pastor, who discovered Remington’s name while auditing the publicly released “Epstein files.” The database reportedly contains over 1,800 mentions of Remington, including communications regarding flight logistics and administrative duties.
“I didn’t report it assuming any criminal wrongdoing,” Turner told local media, describing the move as a matter of “due diligence” for the institution.
Remington Defends Professional Conduct
In statements provided to UM News, Remington maintained that her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional and occurred during the final nine months of his life.
“I never saw anything,” Remington stated, asserting that she did not witness any abuse during her tenure on the island. She emphasized that she takes sexual misconduct seriously and was unaware of any ongoing illicit activity during her employment.
Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Investigation and Institutional Integrity
The Missouri Conference has emphasized that clergy are held to the highest moral and spiritual standards. The current 90-day suspension allows the episcopal office to conduct a “supervisory response process” to determine if Remington’s actions violated the church’s ethical codes.
“We recognize the deep harm connected to Mr. Epstein’s crimes and remain in prayer for survivors who deserve healing and justice,” the Conference stated.
The investigation remains active, and the Missouri Conference has declined further comment until the review is complete.
