Bélu-rend

Nearly every year since 1994, the Francis Balázs Scholars Program has brought a Unitarian Transylvanian minister to study at Starr King.

The program was named for a young Unitarian Transylvanian minister who graduated from the school in the 1920s. He became minister in Meszko, the "Alabaster Village," where he wrote, mentored seminary students, ministered to the residents, brought health programs and economic development to the impoverished local valley, and, with his American wife Christine, restored the historic Unitarian church.

Today, Balázs Scholars’ participation in Starr King classes, chapel services and informal conversations enriches the life of the school. Through preaching and lectures, these scholars share their wisdom, deep faith and commitment throughout the Unitarian Universalist movement in the United States.

At Starr King they study theology, ethics, counseling, preaching, practical ministry and non-profit organizational skills to enhance their parish ministry in Transylvania, as well as in their work in the community and the larger church. Donations from individuals, congregations and the Partner Church Council, honoraria and special collections from churches where the scholars speak, and fund-raising activities provide the support that sustains the program.

Béla Botond (Bélu) Jakabházi, this year’s Balázs Scholar, is the thirteenth Transylvanian Unitarian minister in recent years to study at Starr King. Bélu graduated in 2002 from the seminary in Kolozsvár. He is the minister in the small village of Nyomát, 80 miles from Kolozsvár. For two years he was deputy minister in Marosvásárhely, then for one year a teacher of religious education. He is especially interested in the psychology of religion and in counseling. He is also interested in religious leadership, Buddhism and meditation practice. His grandfather has been in the ministry for 70 years. At 92, he is the oldest practicing Unitarian minister in Transylvania.

2007:

August

17^th Friday, Arrival, Hosted by Sukalskis

19^th Sunday, 10:45, Introduction and sharing the journey at UUC Berkeley – Chris Craethnenn

24^th - 25^th 28^th – 30^th Starr King Orientation Week

26^th Sunday, 10:45, Water Ceremony UUC Berkeley – Barbara Hamilton-Holway Lunch with young adults Yosemite with Jay

September

2^nd UUC Berkeley with Jeff Melcher (Intern minister) – Labor Day theme

3^rd Balazs committee meeting, 7 pm

9^th

10^th Monday, 5:30-7pm Worship Leader Training at SKSM

15^th Bay area marketing campaign kick-off – 11-1 pm Sonya will pick up

16^th

23^rd

29^th to Oct. 1^st Yosemite with Jay

October

Oct 2^nd - 4^th PCD-UU Minister's Association Fall Retreat, St. Dorothy's Rest – riding with Jef Melcher

7^th Hayward, Sonya will pick up

14^th SF?

21^st UUC Berkeley Fun(d) Raiser “Food for Thought.”

22^nd -26^th, Sksm reading week.

28^th

November

4^th 3:30 Theresa Novak's ordination, Marin, Sonya will give ride

5^th -16^th Early registration for Spring semester

November 09 2007, Alaska Airlines 573, Seats: 18C, G Class, Name: JAKABHAZI/BELA Depart: Oakland, CA at 10:24 AM Arrive: Seattle, WA at 12:26 PM

Olympia UU, WA congregation, Tom Mumford, Mikel Young

November 11 2007, Alaska Airlines 490, Seats: 17A, G Class Depart: Seattle, WA at 6:05 PM Arrive: Oakland, CA at 8:06 PM

13^th Tuesday, 1-1:45pm Preach at Starr King chapel

18^th Oakland – Jay Roller

25^th Walnut Creek – Rev. Diane Miller, Worship associate, Cassie Howe (intern at MDUUC, and Starr King student) will drive.

December

1^st 3:30 Balazs Tea, Rebecca Parker's house

2^nd

9^th UUC Marin, Jim Linford 415-831-8761

14^th Fall Semester ends.

16^th Fly to Lexington, KY Bev to airport

23^rd UUC Lexington To Biloxi

30^th

January

6^th Ann Arbor – David Keyes

12^th Ogden newsletter deadline

13^th St. Johns – Tom Darner?

20^th UUC Lexington, KY

27^th Follen Church, Lexington, MA, Katalin Spang

February

1^st Fly home from Kentucky Bev will pick him up

3^rd Roger Thompson would like to invite Belu for dinner

4^th Spring Semester begins.

10^th Personal Theology UUCB Anne will arrange a ride

Fri 15FEB DELTA 4024 OAKLAND- SALT LAKE CI

Bev will take to airport

17^th President's Day weekend Ogden, UT - Dan Arnow

Mon 18FEB DELTA 4019 SALT LAKE CI - OAKLAND

Jay will pick Belu up

24^th Stockton John Schick (209.464-8304 Home) worship associate chairperson

March

2^nd San Jose – Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones Sonya will arrange a ride

9^th Grass Valley – Rev. Meghan Cefalu

15^th Oakland Transylvania Day

16^th Oakland

23^rd

24-28^th, SKSM Reading week.

28-30^th, Eastshore, WA

April

5^th 3:30, Starr King Balazs Spring Fundraiser

6^th Davis - Robin Datel, Sabbatical committee chair,

13^th Unity Church Unitarian, Twin Cities, MN, Tom Merritt, and Roger Jones in Bloomington

20^th UU Fellowship of Corvallis, Oregon, Beverly McFarland, chair, Partner Church Committee

25^th -27^th District Assembly

May

4^th

11^th Mother's Day, Redwood City, Steve Jung

18^th Bay to Breakers

22^nd SKSM Graduation

25^th Mission Peak UU, Fremont, Holly Ito

June

1^st

8^th

15^th

22^nd

23^rd -29^th GA

Interest from: Hawaii, San Mateo, and Berkeley Fellowship, Sacramento, that needs to be made more specific to a couple of proposed dates.