A British minister is visiting the Island to provide spiritual guidance to members of the Unity Foundation of Truth, which has been without a permanent leading light for some time.

Rev. Paulette Pipe, who will stay until September and will be speaking every Sunday at the church on Victoria Street, said she was drawn to Bermuda "by the opportunity to serve" the approximately 100 members of Bermuda's small but active non-denominational congregation.

Rev. Pipe, who was born in Britain to parents from the Caribbean, said: "This place is like a blend of my roots so I don't feel like it is an alien environment in any way. There is a real sense of community that is really in keeping with the sense of community that Unity strives to achieve. I love Bermuda and the fact that people are so open and friendly."

A former journalist, she recently finished three and a half years at seminary school at Unity Village near Kansas City, Missouri where the movement, which encourages practical Christianity, was founded by Charles and Myrtle Philmore in 1889.

"They were very progressive for their time," said Rev. Pipe. "A lot of what we teach is now mainstream but in those days it was quite astounding. The movement is about a spiritual work ethic. It's relentless. You don't go to church on Sunday and say I've done my work for the week. The idea is to have tools that you can take out into the world and use every day. The foundation of that is prayer and meditation, practising the art of love, compassion and forgiveness."

She explained that the Unity Foundation for Truth is very much based around the teachings of Jesus Christ but in a way that emphasises the metaphysical significance of the Bible and the healing power of prayer and meditation.

"The premise is also positive, based on positive thinking and actions. We take the events of the Bible and look at how we can adapt and use them in our own lives. Every event is representative of our lives."

Basic tenets of the group include the idea that there is only one God, and also that there is "divinity" in every individual.

"We believe that Jesus is the way shower. And he said that whatever he did, we can do as well. We follow his teachings so we can work towards the perfection that Jesus manifested. Every human being has the right to be happy, whole and prosperous."

Also important are the power of words and actions. Rev. Pipe said: "Words have creative power so we try to be conscious of what we say and how we say it. That's where positive thinking and actions come into play. We have things called affirmations and denials. It's not that we are denying that anything is happening to us but if I took sick, for example, I would not deny there is no pain. I would just deny that it has any power over me."

It is not a dogmatic movement, said Rev. Pipe: "It is an inclusive religion. We meet people where they are. I'm not going to condemn people or convert them. I would just hope to live by example. You just have to look in the sky at night, at the moon to see something must be going on, some power. But I'm not going to criticise people who don't see that."

Rev. Pipe, who arrived on June 26, said she will be going back to England after she leaves to try and revitalise the Unity Community there, which, although it has been around for decades, is growing smaller as the members become older.

While here, as well as speaking every Sunday, she will lead workshops this month entitled "Life Transforming Dramas of the Bible" every Wednesday. During August, she will lead workshops in spiritual enrichment every Thursday.

There will also be meditation sessions at the church every Tuesday and Thursday between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m.