Dennis offered a course at the Ottawa School of Theology & Spirituality (formerly the Ottawa Lay School of Theology) in the winter of 2009. It was called Faith & Public Life – Making the Connection.

The class explored the connections between religious faith and public life in Canada — looking at how individuals and peoples of faith participate in political issues and public life.

Dennis led a lecture-discussion format in a few sessions and guests of exceptional quality presented in others.

Those guests included: Peter Harder, former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and several other federal government departments; Paul Dewar, Member of Parliament; William Janzen, the long-time director of the Mennonite Central Committee Ottawa office; Kathy Vandergrift, who has worked on Parliament Hill and as the policy director for World Vision; Joe Gunn, executive director of Citizens for Public Justice and former director of social affairs for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; David Illman-White, program director of the Galilee Centre at Arnprior, Ontario; Lloyd Mackey, author and Parliamentary Press Gallery reporter for a number of religious publications and websites.

The class was held at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Westboro at 347 Richmond Road.

The OSTS is in its 45th year and is sponsored by the Anglican, Presbyterian and United churches in the Ottawa area.  It has a non-denominational and ecumenical approach and many of the courses attempt to bridge the gap in understanding other faiths and traditions.

You can contact the Ottawa School of Theology & Spirituality at:http://www.osts.ca/