United Methodist Church Dismissed Pastor Complaint
The Missouri Conference cleared Stephanie Remington after reviewing her past employment ties to a controversial estate.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Religion — General
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The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church has dismissed a complaint against former pastor Stephanie Remington following an inquiry into her employment history. The church transitioned Remington to honorable location status, effectively removing her from its itinerant appointment system.
Why it matters
The investigation was triggered by revelations regarding Remington's work for an estate management firm linked to Jeffrey Epstein, as well as inconsistencies found in her ministry reporting. While no criminal charges exist, the case highlights internal denomination concerns over clergy transparency.
Remington's name appeared in 1,800 records related to island management operations. The church investigation found inconsistencies in her extension ministry documentation compared to actual employment records.
The players
Stephanie Remington
She is a former United Methodist pastor who previously served congregations in Creighton and North Kansas City.
Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church
This regional body of the United Methodist Church oversees clergy appointments and investigations within Missouri.
The details
Remington served as an administrative assistant and temporary property manager for an island management company from 2018 to 2019. Despite the inquiry, she has consistently maintained that she never witnessed abuse during her time working in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Timeline
From 2003 to 2021, Remington served as pastor at Creighton United Methodist Church.
Remington served as a pastor in North Kansas City from 2011 to 2016.
From 2017 to 2018, Remington worked as a contractor at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Remington was employed by the island management firm from 2018 to 2019.
The church launched its formal review of Remington in March 2026.
Culture Shift
The transition to honorable location status marks a formal departure from the United Methodist Church's itinerant appointment system. This adjustment reflects a broader shift toward tighter clerical oversight and documentation requirements for clergy serving in non-traditional extension ministries.
The conference is updating its internal administrative practices to require stricter documentation for all clergy serving in extension ministries. This change ensures that parishioners can expect higher levels of transparency and accountability regarding the external activities of their local religious leaders.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the complexities denominations face when clergy members hold roles outside the traditional parish structure. Future ministry roles for clergy in similar situations now require rigorous review and specific approval under church law.
Further reading
For more on denominational oversight, visit the Religion — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kctv5.
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