NYC Episcopal Priest Declares Jesus Transgender, Sparking Theological Debate
In late September 2026, a video recording of a sermon delivered by Reverend Flourish Klink, an assistant priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York who claimed that Jesus Christ was “transgender,” drew significant public attention and debate across American religious and social circles. The homily was initially delivered at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan during a special prayer service marking the Transgender Day of Visibility, but wide-ranging discussion erupted after clips of the address circulated across social media platforms.
According to Breitbart News , Klink, who identifies as a transgender nonbinary individual, told congregants that God transcends traditional human gender boundaries and is nonbinary as well as “trans.” Elaborating on this theme, the cleric argued that when incarnated in human form, Jesus was “assigned male at birth” by Mary, but lived a life outside traditional first-century Judean masculinity. Specifically, the preacher pointed to Christ remaining unmarried and his unconventional engagement with women, while interpreting post-Resurrection accounts as an indication that Christ’s body was altered beyond male or female: “Jesus was not only transfigured; I think Jesus transitioned.” Klink added that denying this view amounts to denying Christ’s divinity, while acknowledging that the remarks represented a personal theological interpretation rather than explicit scripture.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from conservative Christian commentators, theologians, and churchgoers. Opponents pointed out direct contradictions between Klink’s assertions and biblical texts. Critics specifically cited the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where the angel Gabriel proclaims to Mary the birth of a “son” who will be called “Son of the Most High,” as well as resurrection narratives in the Gospel of John where Christ is addressed with masculine titles. Traditional theologians maintained that classical Christian Christology professes the historical incarnation of God in a specific male human person without diminishing divine fullness, labeling the projection of contemporary gender identity theory onto biblical narratives anachronistic.
Flourish Klink serves as an assistant priest at Christ & St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, holds a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, and co-chairs the Greater New York Area Episcopal Trans Task Force. The Episcopal Church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is well known for its progressive positions on social issues—ordaining women and openly LGBTQ+ clergy and blessing same-sex marriages—though the concept of a “transitioned” Christ does not form part of the denomination’s official doctrine.
Uránia previously reported that the Episcopal Church appointed its first openly transgender male dean of a cathedral in the state of Wisconsin.
