The Rev. Flourish Klink, an Episcopal priest serving at Christ & St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in New York, said God is nonbinary and argued that Jesus “transitioned” after the resurrection. The remarks came in a March 21 homily for a Trans Day of Visibility prayer service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, according to the sermon text Klink published online.

Klink said Christian theologians have long understood God as beyond human categories such as gender, then went further by describing God as trans. Klink argued that Jesus was identified as a boy at birth even though God is beyond male and female, and suggested the resurrected Jesus appeared as a true self beyond those categories.

The sermon presented that conclusion as Klink’s own theological interpretation, not as an explicit biblical statement. Klink acknowledged that the Bible does not explain why some disciples initially failed to recognize the resurrected Jesus, then said, “I think Jesus was not only transfigured. I think that Jesus transitioned.” Klink framed the interpretation as reassurance for transgender Christians.

The sermon resurfaced online in September and drew criticism from commenters who rejected Klink’s interpretation as contrary to Christian teaching. Some reports and the original Stat Crux post identified Christ & St. Stephen’s as the sermon venue, but Klink’s primary account says the homily was delivered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Klink’s biography says the priest currently serves at Christ & St. Stephen’s.