An Episcopal priest in New York City is facing widespread criticism after a sermon resurfaced in which the priest claimed “God is nonbinary” and suggested Jesus Christ was transgender.

The Rev. Flourish Klink, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, made the remarks during a March homily at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The sermon later drew renewed attention after a clip posted to X went viral, drawing millions of views and strong reactions from Christian leaders.

“God is nonbinary,” Klink told the congregation. “But I’m going to go further than that, and I’m going to say God is actually also trans.”

Klink argued that because God transcends human categories of male and female, Jesus was “assigned a gender at birth” when Mary recognized Him as a boy.

“God isn’t a boy, we have established this. God is beyond boy and girl,” Klink said. “God was assigned a gender at birth, and later on it became clear that that gender wasn’t quite right.”

Klink went on to suggest Jesus’ life challenged traditional masculinity because He did not marry and interacted with women in ways that were unusual for His time.

The priest acknowledged that the argument was speculative and not explicitly stated in Scripture, but went further when discussing Christ’s resurrection. Noting that Jesus was not immediately recognized in some post-resurrection appearances, Klink suggested He could have returned in a different form.

“I think Jesus was resurrected as Jesus’ true self, which is beyond male or female,” Klink said. “I think Jesus was not only transfigured; I think Jesus transitioned.”

The claims drew immediate pushback from Christians who pointed to biblical passages identifying Jesus as male. In Luke 1:30-31, the angel Gabriel tells Mary before Christ’s birth that she will “give birth to a son” and name Him Jesus.

Bishop Ceirion H. Dewar of the Confessing Anglican Church criticized Klink’s interpretation, arguing that Christian leaders should distinguish personal speculation from biblical revelation.

“Jesus Christ is not a blank canvas upon which ungodly clergy may paint whatever anthropology happens to be fashionable in their generation,” Dewar wrote on X.

He also stressed that people struggling with questions about sex or gender deserve “compassion, dignity and serious pastoral care,” while arguing that changing historic Christian teaching about Christ is not the appropriate response.

Christian author and broadcaster Eric Metaxas also condemned the sermon.

Historic Christian teaching affirms both that God transcends human limitations and that Jesus became fully human as a man. The New Testament repeatedly refers to Christ as male, including His identification as the Son of God and the promised descendant of David.

Klink holds a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and co-chairs the Greater New York Area Episcopal Trans Task Force.

The controversy comes as other progressive interpretations of biblical figures and gender are generating debate online, highlighting the growing divide among Christians over sexuality, gender and the authority of scripture.