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Reverend Zoltán Kopándi-Benczédi

Unitaian Minister from Transylvania, Romania

Rev. Zoltan Kopandi-BenczediVisiting EUUC

March 23 - 31

Zoli has been keeping a blog, http://koppandiz.blogspot.com, about his stay in the U.S. which began in August 2011 and will end in June 2012. He blogs in Hungarian, but you will see dozens of photos from his travels.

Potluck celebration with Zoli
Saturday, March 24 at 6 p.m.

All Unitarians are invited to attend a potluck dinner where you can meet and chat with Zoli.

Rev. Zoli Kopándi-Benczédi is interested in experiencing UU life and in learning about all aspects of church leadership, including working toward our mission, growing, and meeting the needs of our congregation.

Do you have experience with planning or implementing efforts for meeting the needs of our members? In developing or working toward our Mission, Vision, and Covenant of Healthy Relation? In social justice work? In EUUC committee work? All members and friends can share their perspectives on being part of the EUUC community.

Balázs Scholars Program
Starr King School for the Ministry

This year's Balázs scholar, the Reverend Zoltán Kopándi-Benczédi is the seventeenth Transylvanian Unitarian minister in recent years to study at Starr King School for the Ministry.

The Balázs Scholars Program has brought a Unitarian Transylvanian Minister to study at Starr King School almost every year since 1994. Rev. Zoltán Kopándi-Benczédi joins a long line of Balázs scholars, Transylvanian Unitarians ministers who are committed to not only improving the lives of their fellow congregants in their homeland, but also to sharing with North American Unitarian Universalists the breadth and depth of their passion and caring for their homeland and for our common faith tradition.

Rev. Zoli Kopándi-Benczédi

Rev. “Zoli” Kopándi-Benczédi finished his theological studies in 1991, and presently serves three congregations as the minister in Lupény-Vulkán, Déva and Vajdahunyad. He is joined by his wife Ildikó, a fashion and art stylist, and their son, Gusztáv.

Zoli says that in addition to his studies at Starr King School

My general interest is in the connection between church life and community development, particularly work done in multicultural environments. I am interested in everything from individual church’s missions, to how new congregations are started, to congregational growth plans. And of course, to experience life in different congregational settings as a way of learning.

Star King School brings American UUs and Transylvanian Unitarians together

Starr King School provides fundraising and administrative assistance as well as waiving tuition for the Balázs scholar. The volunteer Balázs Scholars Program Coordinating Committee provides hospitality and support for the scholar and family, and schedules preaching engagements and transportation.

The Committee is made up of representatives from the school, the Starr King community, the host churches and a liaison to the Partner Church Council. The host church for the scholar rotates between the Unitarian Universalist churches in San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley (Kensington). Arliss Ungar (Balazs@ungar.us) is chair of the committee.

Donations make this program possible

The Balázs Scholars Program is funded by donations from individuals, a grant from the Partner Church Council, and from honoraria, donations and Sunday service collections from the churches where the Balázs scholar preaches.

We appreciate your financial help to sustain this important program. Donations may be made online or by check made out to Starr King School with the notation “Balázs” and sent to

Starr King School
2441 Le Conte Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709