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Venn Foundation
58 Hillsborough Road
Hillsborough, Auckland 1042
Email: [email protected] Phone: +6499294988
PO Box 163138
Lynfield, Auckland 1443

Dr. John Dennison

John contributes in the following Venn contexts:

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Dr. John Dennison was born in Sydney and grew up in Wellington. He studied English literature and Classics at Victoria University, before completing an M.A. in English and a Bachelor of Theology at the University of Otago. Responding to a strong sense of calling to serve God in the university, he completed a Ph.D. at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. That research resulted in a book on the poetics of Irish poet Seamus Heaney, published by Oxford University Press. In 2012 John joined the Anglican Chaplaincy at Victoria University as a lay chaplain, where he had a particular responsibility for the mission to university staff. He then served as Supervising Chaplain from 2019 to 2021.

John joined the Venn team as a Senior Teaching Fellow in 2015. In March 2021 he became Director of Resources, overseeing new initiatives in digital and print. Much of John’s work reflects his deep desire to see others flourish in their life with God, and in their giftings. He regularly teaches on the place of prayer in everyday life and work, and is passionate about creating new resources which will open people’s lives more completely to God’s purposes. John is the editor of Common Ground, Venn’s digital magazine, and is always keen to engage with new and established writers.

Central to John’s calling is his life as a maker, whether that be gardening, working at his carpentry bench, or writing another poem. His first full-length collection of poems, Otherwise (Carcanet/Auckland University Press), was long-listed for the 2016 New Zealand Book Awards and short-listed for the 2017 Michael Murphy Poetry Prize. He is married to Jannah, and they have three sons, Theo, Emmaus, and Blythe.

Explore the latest
content from John

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Common Ground
December 2021 Edtn
21 min read

Where Love Rejoices

John Dennison

It wasn’t my best work. Loosely stacked in three-line stanzas, any punctuation replaced by large toothless gaps between the clauses, the poem was as awkward as it was exuberant. My lecturer’s question was gently put but pointed enough: “John,” he said, “Don’t you think you can have too much joy?”

Lead Articles Living Well
Read Article
4 min read

A Timely Practice—Standing before God for the sake of the World

John Dennison

First published in May 2020, we’ve returned in recent days to this article about the practice of intercession. As we’ve watched events unfold at home and in Ukraine, and as Aotearoa, New Zealand experiences the direct impact of COVID-19, many of you will have found yourselves overshadowed, and heavy of heart.

Living Well
Read Article
Common Ground
June 2021 Edtn
21 min read

Jesus and the Good of Work

John Dennison

In 1817, Percy Shelley penned his poem, “Ozymandias,” a meditation on the greatness of human work that is as pointed as it is brief.

Faith & Work Lead Articles
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An Advent Feast

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Copyright © 2023
Venn Foundation

Venn Foundation

58 Hillsborough Road
Hillsborough, Auckland 1042

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +64 (9) 929 4988

Post: PO Box 163138
Lynfield, Auckland 1443

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