General Synod Election Candidates 2026

REVD JOSIAS DE SOUZA

Candidate for General Synod - Diocese of St Albans

Nominated by: Revd Dr Daniel Drew
Seconded by: Revd Helen Stewart

FAITHFUL TOGETHER

Serving Christ. Strengthening Churches.

What kind of Church am I praying for?

I am praying for a Church that keeps Jesus Christ at the centre: rooted in Scripture, shaped by prayer, open to the work of
the Holy Spirit and confident in the Gospel.

I long for a Church that is not concerned with building its own little kingdoms, but with building God's Kingdom; churches
that grow and multiply, not for their own sake, but because people are being drawn to Christ, becoming disciples and being
sent out to bless others.

I want our churches to offer something of a taste of heaven: places where people encounter God's presence, discover hope
and belonging, and are transformed by the love of Christ. Churches with a thirst for worship and a heart for the lost, the
last and the least.

That is the kind of Church I want to help strengthen.
Why am I standing again?

I have served in ordained ministry for nearly twenty-two years, first in the Diocese of Recife in Brazil and, since 2016, in
the Church of England.

I previously served on General Synod from 2018-2021. When that quinquennium ended, I was also moving from Dover to
Luton. It felt right not to stand again immediately, but to give my attention to settling my family, getting to know a new
parish and finding my place within a new Diocese.

Five years later, I believe it is time to offer myself again. Those years have given me a fresh perspective on the needs of our
parishes, our Diocese and the national Church. Serving in Luton, one of the most culturally diverse towns in the country,
has particularly deepened my understanding of the missionary opportunities and challenges facing the Church of England
today.

I would return to General Synod not simply with previous Synod experience, but with five more years of parish
ministry, wider diocesan responsibility and greater clarity about our need for mission in this country.

A Church in England, for England

Coming to England from Brazil gave me a perspective on the Church of England that I still value. I was struck by the
extraordinary opportunity we have as the Established Church. We have a presence in communities across the country and
relationships with schools, civic institutions and local organisations. Doors are still open to us that churches in many other
parts of the world do not have.

I believe we should use that opportunity - not for privilege, but for service; not simply to maintain an institution, but to
make Christ known. Our buildings can be places of prayer, worship, hospitality, discipleship and transformation at the
heart of their communities.

The Church of England can still be a Church in England and for England.

General Synod Election 2026

Growing younger - because I have seen what God can do

Young people have been at the heart of much of my ministry. I have served both as a minister and as a secondary school
teacher, walking alongside young people facing drugs, difficult relationships, family struggles and deep questions about
meaning, identity and their future.

But I have also seen transformation. I have watched young people whose futures once seemed without hope encounter
Jesus, discover purpose and, years later, become professionals, mothers and fathers, building families shaped by faith,
hope and strong values.

I know the transforming power of the Gospel because I have seen it.

That is why our Diocese's commitment to growing younger and more diverse matters deeply to me. I want to see that
transformation in my parish, across our Diocese and throughout this country.

Faithful together

My previous time on General Synod taught me something about the breadth of the Church of England. There were sessions
when discussions seemed endlessly detailed and procedural, only for me to understand later why those details mattered.
At other times I saw the tension between new ways of being Church and structures that can sometimes appear rigid, but
which also provide stability, accountability and continuity.

I learned that moving forward and holding firm foundations do not have to be opposites.

My own convictions are rooted in Scripture and the historic teaching of the Church. I believe the Church must retain the
courage to speak prophetically and to call people to the transformation we find in Jesus Christ. We should listen carefully
to the world around us without simply reflecting it. We can do this without fear, but always in love.

I also know that I will not agree with everyone I represent, and not everyone will agree with me. General Synod taught me
that every voice matters. We worship differently, come from different traditions and sometimes disagree strongly, but we
share responsibility for the life and mission of Christ's Church. For me, representation means listening as well as speaking,
and treating those with whom I disagree with dignity and respect.

Serving Christ. Strengthening Churches.

Today I serve as Vicar of St Francis, Luton, Assistant Area Dean of Luton, a member of the Bishop's Council and a member
of the Board for Mission and Ministry. I also value working ecumenically through Churches Together in Luton.

At St Francis, I have tried to lead with a simple understanding: the church does not exist only for the congregation
gathered inside it. God has placed us there for our parish and for the wider town. Growth is not about creating a St Francis
empire; it is about making disciples, multiplying ministry and becoming a blessing to others.

That local experience shapes what I would bring to General Synod. I want our national structures to help local churches
flourish. I want us to invest courageously in children and young people, take safeguarding and healthy leadership
seriously, make disciples, care for those on the margins, and recover confidence in sharing the Gospel.

I remain hopeful about the Church of England. We have extraordinary opportunities before us. But our structures must
serve our mission, and our mission must remain centred on Jesus Christ.

If this is the kind of Church you are praying for too, I would be deeply grateful for your
support and your first-preference vote.

It would be a privilege to represent the clergy of the Diocese of St Albans and to serve you once again on General
Synod.

FAITHFUL TOGETHER

Serving Christ. Strengthening Churches.

Revd Josias de Souza
Vicar of St Francis, Luton | Assistant Area Dean of Luton | Bishop's Council | Board for Mission and Ministry
Former General Synod Member, 2018-2021

General Synod Election 2026

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