Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Moonrise For?

Moonrise is a retreat for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse religious professionals serving in Unitarian Universalist settings.

Participants may include clergy, chaplains, seminarians, religious educators, musicians, community ministers, congregational leaders, spiritual directors, and other religious professionals whose work is connected to Unitarian Universalism.

Whether you are newly entering ministry or have served for decades, Moonrise is designed to offer space for connection, reflection, creativity, and renewal. If you are still unsure if that includes you, drop us an email at moonrise@uua.org.

Is Moonrise The TRUUsT Retreat?

No.

Moonrise is not a TRUUsT retreat and is not intended to replace the TRUUsT retreats of the past or any retreats TRUUsT may choose to hold in the future.

Moonrise was created as a gathering for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse religious professionals serving in UU settings. While many participants may also be members of TRUUsT, attendance is not limited to TRUUsT members. Moonrise is sponsored by the UUA and reflects a deeper commitment by the UUA to create a transgender religious professionals retreat modeled after Finding Our Way Home.

We are committed to maintaining a positive relationship with TRUUsT and have an MOU and plan to provide time and space during the retreat for a TRUUsT “Tent of Meeting” gathering. Tuesday’s Tent of Meetings is only open to TRUUsT membership, but folks who are eligible may join the day of the gathering.
We ask participants to be in good standing within the community, but membership in TRUUsT is not required to attend.

What Can I Expect From the Retreat?

Moonrise is intentionally designed as a retreat rather than a conference.

Participants can expect space for reflection, spiritual practice, meaningful conversation, creativity, time for rest, opportunities for peer support, and to build relationships with colleagues who understand the unique joys and challenges of trans religious leadership.

There will be opportunities for learning and reflection, but the primary purpose of Moonrise is renewal, community, and belonging.

Why Does Moonrise Use a Tiered Pricing Model?

Moonrise is able to offer registration rates well below the actual cost of participation thanks to the generous support of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We are deeply grateful for that investment in transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse religious professionals serving in UU settings.

Because participants come from a wide range of professional and financial circumstances, we also use a tiered pricing model. We invite attendees to select the registration level that best reflects their ability to contribute. The higher tiers help make the retreat possible for the entire community and allow us to keep registration costs lower than they would otherwise be.

At this time, Moonrise does not offer additional scholarships beyond the tiered pricing structure. However, members of TRUUsT may wish to inquire directly with TRUUsT leadership about whether any financial assistance is available through their organization.

All participants receive the same retreat experience regardless of the registration level selected.

What If I Don’t Know Anyone?

Many participants will arrive without knowing anyone else.

Moonrise was created with the understanding that trans religious leadership can sometimes feel isolating. The retreat is designed to foster connection in ways that are welcoming, intentional, and low-pressure.

You do not need to arrive with a group or a network. You only need to arrive as yourself. But we hope you leave feeling more connected to colleagues and companions.