Pastor Suspended for Epstein Association

0:00On March 18th, a Missouri pastor faces a 90-day suspension from the United Methodist Church after leaders discovered she worked for Jeffrey, Epstein in late 2018 and early 2019. The church conference says she also misrepresented that time on her annual clergy reports, prompting a formal review that kicked off last week. She had listed her role as extension ministry with the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, but the seminary confirmed. She only did part-time contract work there in 2017 and 2018. Instead, records show she served as an administrative assistant for Epstein from August to December 2018, then as a temporary. Property manager on his little St. James Island through May 2019. Epstein was already a convicted sex offender by then, and the association has raised questions since the church had no prior knowledge of it. The pastor insists she witnessed no wrong doing during her time with him, which was in the final months before his arrest on federal sex

1:01trafficking, charges in July 2019. Bishop Robert Farh of the Missouri conference issued the suspension starting March 12th, barring her from clergy duties while the process continues. Officials stress that clergy must maintain high moral standards, especially given the harm tied to Epstein's crimes. No criminal charges have surfaced against her so far, and the conference is staying quiet as the review moves forward.