Dennis Oliver

Raised in a humanist household, Dr Dennis Oliver (Seng Ting) has promoted human welfare through his work and voluntary service in religious and community development organisations.

Dennis has explored and shared principles of spiritual living in a variety of Christian and Buddhist contexts. He earned the Dr. Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary, pastored three Canadian congregations and served as a teacher, consultant and lay educator focusing on congregational dynamics. He has worked with a variety of social entrepreneurs and social service organisations in Canada and the UK.

Dennis embraced Buddhism in 1990. He was part-time Buddhist Chaplain at HMP Kilmarnock for ten years. In 2017 he co-founded the Centre for Pragmatic Buddhism in Scotland, which he still serves. He is an ordained Senior Monk (Sensei) with the Order of Pragmatic Buddhism. Dennis authored curricula for community-based organisations, including “Coach Up!” and “Rainbow Thinking Skills”.

He has written for a variety of periodicals and books, including The I Can Attitude, (Wood Lake Books, 1992) of which John Congram wrote, “In an age of depression and confusion, Dennis Oliver offers hope and a way forward through the stories of ordinary people.”

Dennis published Illustrated Poems and Songs which reflects his presence in Glasgow’s amateur performance circles. This included an evening presentation of Leonard Cohen’s songs and a play about the Underground Railway, performed at St. Mungo’s Museum. He wrote and produced a one man show with Norman McCallum: “The Buddha Pays a Visit”, which was performed twice in Stirling by Mr. McCallum.

Dennis is the father of four and grandfather of five. He lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife Elizabeth and their dog Bryn. "I've never met a dog I didn't like, but I've been afraid of more than one."