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Guest Blog – Beyond a Piece of Pie: Embracing the Challenge and Invitation

We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Franklyn James back to our guest blog as he shares his reflections on PIE Day and the urgency of justice work, especially in today’s climate.

The world has always been chaotic, but with the rapid advancements in transportation and communication technology, we experience that chaos in real time. Every war, crisis, or policy shift is instantly accessible, making it impossible to ignore. The weight of this constant stream of information is overwhelming, leaving many anxious and exhausted. Perhaps this explains why our ancestors, despite facing their own struggles, seemed to carry less anxiety and stress; they were not inundated with news from every corner of the globe.

Yet, with this immediacy comes both a challenge and an invitation. The challenge is to not be consumed by the relentless flood of information and to resist the paralysis of witnessing injustice at an unprecedented scale. The invitation is to engage—thoughtfully, courageously, and humbly, pursuing a justice that is not reactive but deeply rooted, enduring, and transformative.

In this tension between chaos and engagement, I find myself reflecting on recent political shifts, the urgency of justice work, and the significance of PIE Day. These realities are not abstract; they shape how I navigate advocacy, inclusion, and power. I am also wrestling with five key thoughts. These are not fair-weather theories but lived, pressing, and deeply personal struggles. They are my attempt to hold the tension between advocacy and humility, justice and power, inclusion and the temptation to replicate the very structures we seek to dismantle.

A Personal Call to Justice

Justice has been at the core of my life and ministry since 2007. Unlike Moses, Ezekiel, or the Apostle Paul, who were called through divine encounters, and unlike many in leadership or sacred callings who speak of an overpowering sense of purpose and divine summoning—a clear and unmistakable mandate that propels them forward—my call was birthed in the trenches of experience. It did not come with a clear call, visions, or thunderous voices but with a jarring and persistent realization that oppression, once endured, could not, in good conscience, be inflicted upon another.

I was deeply impacted by the weight of both witnessing and once participating in injustice firsthand. It was a sobering realization to recognize that I had been part of the very oppression I now seek to dismantle. That awareness brought a deep ache for something better and the undeniable truth that silence is complicity. This personal call to justice naturally leads to broader questions. How do we define and enforce morality in a just society? And if oppression is to be rejected, how do we structure laws that ensure fairness without overstepping personal freedoms?

I write this piece with profound love and solidarity for Two-Spirit, LGBTQ+ people, not because I seek to belong to a particular category but because justice demands my voice. Some find it perplexing that I do not fully claim the community I stand with, but for me, advocacy is rooted in integrity, not identity. Each person navigates the world in their own way, defining their engagement and presence on their own terms. I engage with life through a theologically and philosophically queer lens, critiquing both traditionally held and modern rhetoric—this is my way. I stand not to be seen but to ensure that no one is rendered invisible, to challenge the barriers that make some fight for a place at the table when they should have already been there.

Should Any or All Aspects of Morality Be Legislated?

Policy can shape behavior but cannot dictate morality in the deepest sense. Laws can define the boundaries of social conduct but cannot reach into the sacred, private spaces of individual conscience. John Stuart Mill, in On Liberty, asserts: “The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to obtain it.” (p. 83)

Similarly, C.S. Lewis observed: “We make [people] without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” His critique highlights the paradox of expecting moral excellence while dismantling the structures that nurture it.

Mill expands on this, by arguing that moral and intellectual faculties develop only when they are exercised: “He who does anything because it is the custom, makes no choice. He gains no practice either in discerning or in desiring what is best.” (p. 123-124). This statement reinforces the idea that blindly following societal norms without question stifles critical thinking and moral growth.

In today’s world, democratic governance has not erased oppression—it has, at times, reshaped it. Majority rule can be weaponized to suppress dissent, silence minority voices, and enforce ideological conformity. Mill describes this phenomenon as the ‘tyranny of the majority,’ warning that social tyranny can be more insidious than political oppression, as it “penetrates much more deeply into the details of life, and enslaves the soul itself.” (p. 76). When society enforces conformity, it stifles individual moral and intellectual growth.

True morality is cultivated in the human soul, not enforced by government decree. The role of law is not to impose a single moral vision but to ensure dignity, fairness, and protection for all. What happens behind closed doors between consenting adults should not be dictated by legislation. Instead, a just society nurtures an environment where individuals can exercise their faculties of judgment, reason, and ethical discernment.

Celebrating PIE While Embracing Humility

The Public, Intentional, and Explicit (PIE) framework for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ inclusion has been a powerful tool for advocacy. It calls faith communities and institutions to move beyond passive acceptance to active affirmation. Yet, as advocacy grows louder, humility often diminishes. We become so focused on visibility and recognition that we forget the quieter virtues of listening, learning, and growing together.

I am proposing expanding our approach to advocacy by embracing a new dimension: Public, Intentional, and Humble (PIH). True justice is not measured by volume alone but by the depth of our integrity. Humility reminds us that our understanding is never absolute; it calls us to create space for dialogue, recognizing that true inclusion and belonging thrive in mutual respect, not dominance.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, calls us to a radical humility in advocacy: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV).

Justice without humility is simply another form of power-seeking. In our fight for inclusion, we must ensure we do not become what we once resisted—a minority that silences and dismisses dissenting voices. If the tyranny of the majority was once a great concern, we must now recognize that the tyranny of the minority is also possible. When a small but influential group dictates norms, suppresses opposing views, and enforces ideological conformity, the cycle of oppression continues under a different name. The quest for equity must resist creating new hierarchies of exclusion and instead cultivate genuine spaces of belonging for all.

The Need for Comprehensive, Enduring Advocacy

One of the greatest flaws in modern political activism is its dependence on executive orders, Orders in Council, or statutory instruments. In recent elections, policies on gender, race, and social justice have swung wildly with each administration, revealing the fragility of change based solely on political alignment. This instability underscores the need for thorough and lasting advocacy, ensuring policies transcend political shifts and become embedded in law.

Laws rooted in justice should not be beholden to the ideology of a single administration. When policies are anchored in fairness, dignity, and justice for all, they withstand the test of time. This is why the Civil Rights Act of 1964 remains a landmark law despite changing governments. It was not an executive order easily undone but a legal framework grounded in constitutional principles.

As Nelson Mandela once said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” Our advocacy must be emotional, intellectual, passionate, and legally sound. Only then can we create a world where justice is not a fleeting moment but a lasting reality.

The Dream Still Stands

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s prophetic words remain relevant today: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

This dream remains unfinished. Justice, in all its forms, must reach every facet of society. It is fulfilled when no voice is suppressed or placed above another. Justice should not be a pendulum swinging with each election; it must be a firm foundation. Let our advocacy be public, intentional, and humble. Let it be thorough, enduring, and wise. May it always seek the common good, ensuring justice that lasts beyond the present and into the future

— Rev. Franklyn James, West River United Church, Cornwall, PE

Franklyn James is a theologian, educator, and storyteller. Committed to justice, transformation, and inclusive education, he challenges both traditional and contemporary rhetoric, fostering critical dialogue. A dynamic professional, he engages audiences with thought-provoking insights on faith, identity, and personal growth. His work inspires deeper reflection, inviting others to explore beyond the surface. Whether speaking on spiritual, social, or creative topics, Franklyn brings wisdom, authenticity, and a powerful presence to every stage.