In the Margins

Through scriptural reflection and personal stories about gender identity, an ordained priest moves the conversation beyond transgender inclusion to demonstrate the unique and vital theological insights transgender Christians can provide the church.

Father Shannon Kearns is familiar with liminal spaces. He’s lived in them his whole life. And while his experience as a transgender man has often made it difficult for him to fit in—especially in the context of Christianity—it has also shaped his perspective in important ways on complicated, gender-transgressing aspects of theology and Scripture.

In the Margins weaves stories from Shannon’s life into reflections on well-known biblical narratives—such as Jacob wrestling with the divine, Rahab and the Israelite spies, Ezekiel and the dry bones, and the transfiguration of Jesus. In each chapter, Shannon shows how stories have helped him make sense of his own identity, and how those same stories can unlock the transformative power of faith for those willing to listen with an open mind and stand alongside him in the in-between.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Eunuchs: Beyond Binaries

Joseph: The Dreamer

Jacob: The Wrestler

Rahab: The Sexual Outsider

Ezekiel and Dry Bones: Healing Bodies

Jesus: In the Wilderness

The Transfiguration: Truth Telling

Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday: Pain and Power

The Kingdom of God: Courage to Be

Resurrection: New Beginnings

Conclusion

Glossary

Further Reading