Church Leader Placed on Leave Amid Claims of Connection to Epstein

From the Pulpit to the Private Island: Missouri Pastor Suspended After Records Reveal Work for Jeffrey Epstein

The intersection of faith, morality, and one of the most notorious criminal sagas in American history has reached a boiling point in Missouri. This week, the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church took the extraordinary step of immediately suspending the Reverend Stephanie Remington, an ordained elder with over 15 years of service, following the discovery of her extensive professional ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The revelation has sent shockwaves through the Protestant denomination, not only because of the nature of Epstein’s crimes but because of the specific environment where Remington served: his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As the United Methodist Church (UMC) grapples with the fallout, the case has become a lightning rod for discussions regarding clergy accountability, the ethics of “ministry,” and the thin line between offering redemption and facilitating a criminal enterprise.

The Discovery in the “Epstein Files”

The suspension was triggered by the diligent research of Reverend Elizabeth Glass Turner, a writer who has been meticulously combing through the vast trove of documents known as the “Epstein Files” released by the Department of Justice. Turner discovered that Remington’s name appeared more than 1,800 times in the records. Upon being tipped off, the Missouri Conference acted with uncharacteristic speed.

Bishop Robert Farre, the resident bishop of the Missouri Episcopal area, announced that Remington would be placed on a 90-day suspension from all clergy responsibilities effective March 12, 2026. This period marks the beginning of a formal “supervisory response process” as outlined in the UMC’s Book of Discipline.

A Career Move into the Heart of Darkness

The timeline of Remington’s association with Epstein is particularly troubling to many. In 2018, Remington, an experienced pastor who had previously lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, sought to return to the territory. She applied for and accepted a position as an administrative assistant for Epstein, a role that reportedly offered a generous salary, a beachfront office, and air conditioning.

Crucially, Remington did not take this job in a vacuum of ignorance. By 2018, Jeffrey Epstein was already a registered sex offender, having served an 18-month sentence in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution, including from a minor. Despite this widely publicized criminal history, Remington accepted the role.

Her involvement deepened in early 2019 when she was promoted to temporary property manager of Epstein’s private island, Little St. James. In this capacity, she handled day-to-day operations, including kitchen renovations, facility management, and travel arrangements for guests. This was the same period during which the DOJ now alleges the island was a primary hub for a massive sex trafficking operation involving over a thousand victims.

The Theological Defense: “Jesus Kept Bad Company”

In a move that has sparked intense debate within religious circles, Remington has not remained silent. Speaking to United Methodist News, she defended her decision using a deeply theological argument. She invoked the image of Jesus Christ, who was famously criticized by the religious elite of his day for dining with tax collectors, sinners, and the “morally disqualified.”

“Jesus got into a lot of trouble for the company he kept,” Remington stated, arguing that to withhold a relationship from Epstein because of his past would be a betrayal of the message of grace and hope she had preached for over a decade. Her defense rests on the idea that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and that a pastor’s duty is to go where the broken and the sinful reside.

However, critics and church officials are drawing a sharp distinction between ministering to a soul and managing a lifestyle. While the Christian tradition emphasizes redemption, it rarely advocates for the facilitated management of a convicted offender’s private estate—especially one used to perpetuate harm against others.

A Failure of Disclosure

Beyond the moral optics, the Missouri Conference is focusing on a significant procedural breach. Under UMC law, clergy serving in “extension ministries”—positions outside of a traditional local church appointment—are required to file annual reports with their Bishop and District Superintendent. These reports are the primary mechanism for the church to ensure that its representatives are acting in accordance with the denomination’s ethical and spiritual standards.

The Missouri Conference’s official statement was blunt: they had no knowledge of Remington’s association with Epstein. While Remington was working on the private island, her annual paperwork represented that she was performing extension ministry through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary. However, the seminary has since confirmed that she was only a part-time contractor for them in 2017 and 2018 and has not been employed by them since.

Remington admits there were periods where she failed to file reports. While she claims she mentioned the work to her District Superintendent during a Zoom call, the conference maintains that the nature and employer of her position were never disclosed.

The Cost of Enabling

As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s machine. The DOJ has identified over a thousand individuals whose lives were devastated by the trafficking operations Epstein funded and managed. The Missouri Conference highlighted this in their statement, expressing deep regret for the harm connected to Epstein’s crimes and reaffirming their commitment to creating a safe space for women and all people.

The central question facing the church is one of enabling. If a member of the clergy is part of the “logistical machine” that keeps a predator’s world running—even if they are only “handling kitchen renovations”—does that constitute a violation of their ordination vows? The UMC appears to be leaning toward the affirmative, suggesting that “grace without accountability” is not grace at all, but a form of cover.

Looking Ahead

For the next 90 days, Reverend Stephanie Remington will remain suspended while the supervisory response process determines her future in the ministry. The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for how religious institutions handle clergy involvement with controversial figures and the transparency required of those who carry the title of “Pastor.”

As the Missouri Conference continues its review, the broader religious community is left to contemplate a difficult reality: the same message of grace that offers hope to the fallen can, if misused, become a shield for those who facilitate darkness. For the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, the church’s pursuit of accountability is not just a procedural matter—it is a necessary step toward justice.