Statement Concerning John Hampton, Jr.
News
The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church is committed to providing safe places of worship and fellowship to everyone we serve. The Conference considers this to be a serious situation and will cooperate fully with the police investigation if asked. At this time, Conference officials have no reason to believe anything criminal took place on church property or with anyone associated with the Hermann or Rosebud United Methodist Churches.
Following notification that Hampton was arrested and released on bond on Tuesday, August 2, Bishop Bob Farr took immediate action to suspend Hampton and the Northeast District Superintendent told Hampton he was not allowed on church property. The Safe Sanctuaries Authority of the Missouri Conference then notified Safe Gatherings that his certification should be suspended until further notice. Safe Gatherings is a third-party abuse prevention system the Missouri Conferences uses for clergy and lay volunteers working with children, youth and vulnerable adults. The system includes abuse prevention training, background checks and reference checks.
In addition, all active United Methodist clergy in Missouri undergo extensive training, psychological examination and additional background checks prior to appointment to local churches.
Neither the Missouri Conference nor any of Hampton’s supervisors were aware of a criminal investigation or any allegations prior to his arrest and release on bond.