Our Transylvanian Roots

• Home
• About Us
  • Our Ministry
  • Our Church
  • Unitarian Universalism
  • Mission Statement
  • Board of Trustees
• Services & Activities
  • 2012 Auction
  • Welcoming Congregation
  • Regular Programs
• Calendar for Members
• Religious Education
  • RE Blog
  • Introduction
  • Children's Programs
  • Middle School Programs
  • High School Program
  • Adult Programming
• Music
• Sermons
  • Podcasts
• Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Map & Directions
• Facilities Rental
• Newsletter
• Social Action
• Watch Video
  • SUUC Video
  • Seabeck Retreat
  • Voices of a Liberal Faith
• Photo Album
• Support
• Related Links

International Guest Speaker: The Reverend Zoltán “Zoli” Kopándi-Benczédi

On April 1, 2012, we will host a Unitarian minister who has lived through the turmoil and political harassment of Unitarians in Romania. The Rev. Mr. Zoltán “Zoli” Kopándi-Benczédi finished his theological studies in 1991, and presently serves three Transylvanian congregations as the minister in Lupény-Vulkán, Déva and Vajdahunyad.

The Rev. “Zoli” has come to the US to study at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley through a grant from the Balázs Scholars Program, which has brought a Unitarian Transylvanian Minister to study at Starr King almost every year since 1994. Rev. Kopándi-Benczédi joins a long line of Balázs scholars, Transylvanian Unitarians ministers who are committed not only to 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.

He tells us: “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.”

“Zoli” brought his wife and son to California but they will not be with him when he visits us.  He will speak from our pulpit April 1st. Following the sermon we will have opportunities to ask more questions about Unitarianism and life in Transylvania and the “Hungarian Diaspora”. He will return to Berkeley that afternoon.