A United Methodist elder in Missouri has been sidelined from active ministry after church leaders learned she briefly worked for Jeffrey Epstein and handled property duties on his private island, triggering a formal supervisory review. The move has turned a local personnel case into a test of church oversight at the very moment newly released Justice Department records keep dragging Epstein’s network back into the headlines.
What the conference says
Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Episcopal Area placed the Rev. Stephanie Remington on a 90-day suspension from clergy responsibilities starting March 12 while the episcopal office reviews the situation, according to a statement from the Missouri Conference. The conference says Remington had identified herself as serving in an extension ministry through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and that conference leaders were not previously aware of her employment with Epstein. The statement notes that the supervisory response process outlined in the Book of Discipline is now formally underway.
What she allegedly did and what she says
According to UM News, Remington is listed in federal material as having worked for Epstein first as an administrative assistant from August to December 2018 and later as a temporary property manager on his private island from January through May 2019. In an interview with the outlet, she said she “never saw anything” and described her work as strictly professional, limited to administrative and facilities-related tasks. UM News also reports that her name appears in more than 1,800 records within the Justice Department files that have been released.
Local coverage identified Remington as the active clergy member placed on suspension and reported that Missouri conference officials were spurred to act after a tip from someone reviewing the newly public Epstein documents. As reported by The Tennessean, details in the conference statement, combined with UM News reporting, supplied the basic timeline that came to light this week.
Why the records matter
The attention on Remington arrives as federal disclosures from the Epstein investigations have produced a sprawling trove of documents and reignited public scrutiny of the people who handled logistics, administration, and property for him over the years. The Department of Justice and other outlets have acknowledged large releases of case files and media, and reporting has noted that the DOJ identified more than 1,000 victims in its review, a scale that has intensified questions about anyone who worked in Epstein’s orbit. Coverage from the AP and other reporting on Epstein’s 2008 Florida plea provides background on why even seemingly routine administrative roles now draw sharp scrutiny. PBS documented how that earlier conviction and sentence helped shape later coverage of Epstein’s activities.
Church rules and the complaint
The Missouri Conference says Remington is facing a complaint under church law, not for criminal behavior, but for failing to adequately keep conference leaders informed about her ministry setting. The statement cites Book of Discipline provisions that govern extension ministries and the supervisory response process. In classic Methodist fashion, there is a lot of paperwork involved: the conference outlines specific reporting and documentation expectations for clergy serving outside a local church appointment and notes that Bishop Farr will bring the supervisory response to a conclusion using the options listed in the Discipline. Missouri Conference
Support for survivors and denominational reaction
The denomination’s churchwide agency focused on women’s concerns is urging leaders to respond in ways that are trauma-informed and that center accountability where abuse has occurred. The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women has highlighted its confidential hotline for survivors as one of several available resources. Denominational leaders quoted in coverage say that transparency and pastoral care for survivors remain top priorities while the review moves forward. The commission has underscored those commitments in recent public statements.
Remington, 50, has served as a United Methodist pastor in Missouri for more than 15 years and has also done part-time work with the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. She reported to the conference that she was working in the Virgin Islands before taking the Epstein-related position. She has told reporters that she left that job to care for an ill parent and has voiced concern that public reaction to the revelations could unfairly smear her ministry while the conference review is still in progress. UM News
At this point, neither the Missouri Conference nor other reporting has alleged any criminal conduct by Remington. The conference has said it will not comment further while the supervisory response remains active. Thanks to the ongoing public debate over the newly released DOJ records, however, institutional reviews like this one are likely to keep drawing close attention from survivors, advocates, and church leaders. AP
What to watch next
The supervisory response process invoked by the conference gives church authorities a defined set of options for resolving questions of accountability. Bishop Farr, working with the conference’s board of ordained ministry, will determine the next steps for Remington’s status. In the meantime, the Missouri Conference is encouraging anyone who needs support to use established survivor resources and has said it will update clergy in its network as the review proceeds. Missouri Conference
