2010-11 Balázs Scholar

Levente Lázár (2010-2011) is the sixteenth Transylvanian Unitarian minister to study at Starr King School in recent years. He and his family are being hosted by our church.  Levente and Erica have two young children, Réka, 7 and Levente Junior, 11. They are attending school in Berkeley, and learning English rapidly.

Levente finished his theological studies in 1995. Together with his wife Rev. Erika Demeter they serve five congregations. They have been very involved in strengthening smaller, partnered congregations, and with renovating and building new churches. Levente says that in addition to his studies at Starr King School, "I have always been interested in the connection between science and religion, and have written several papers on the topic. My final exam topic at theological school was The Creation and The Book of Revelation. I am also interested in people’s belief systems, their relationships with God or the Transcendent, and with fulfilling spiritual needs."

If you would like to help support their time among us by sponsoring them for a Thursday night supper, or inviting them to your home or taking them on an excursion, please contact Anne Greenwood.

Homoródújfalu Village Education Project

Some of the students we met on our pilgrimage in 2006 are pictured here. Their studies range from accounting to graphic arts, to agriculture and sociology, and teaching.

During our visit in 2001, we asked the villagers what would assist them and this Project was born. Since that time we have received a yearly list from their Education Committee of 10-19 students who could benefit from our help. The village school only goes through 4th grade. Students must attend 5th through 8th grade in nearby Okland, then must travel to, and board in, nearby cities for high school (if they pass the entrance exams). This costs a family from $250–$400 or more per year, and not all can afford it.

Homoródújfalu Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce Homoródújfalu?

Home-awe-ru-doey-fah-lu.

Where is our Partner Church?

In a rural Transylvanian village in Romania, with whom we first had contact in the 1930's. The war years and the communist regime intervened. The partnership was revitalized in 1990 when Rev. Boeke and about 20 members of our choir stopped briefly in the village. It is the only church in the village and almost everyone is Unitarian.

Who are the people in this congregation?

These are ethnic Hungarians who are Romanian citizens, since this region was annexed to Romania after World War I. They are Unitarians by birth and tradition for over 400 years. There are approximately 100 families in this farming village. They raise sheep and cattle for milk and cheese and sustain gardens to feed their families. Some have jobs in neighboring cities, but most farm the land for their livelihood.