LYQ Director Announcement

After 15 years of wonderful service to LYQ as Director, we will have the opportunity to farewell Aaron Glover in a number of forums and acknowledge the significant contributions he has made in all aspects of the management of LYQ. At this time, I have the pleasure of announcing that following an extensive recruitment process the District Church Board have appointed, on the recommendation of the Lutheran Youth of Queensland Council, Mr Darren Pope to the position of Director. This appointment brings to the role someone who has served in Lutheran Education as his vocation throughout his whole working life. He possesses extensive leadership, management, and governance experience, alongside his years of guiding and teaching our youth. A coordinated handover and transition will take place over the next few weeks, and this will enable Aaron to commence a time of family adventures and finally some well- deserved rest and relaxation. We extend our best wishes to both these wonderful gentlemen and I ask that we all prayerfully ask for God’s wisdom and encouragement for their future paths.

A Snapshot of our New Director

Darren, as a life-long, active, communicant member of the Lutheran Church of Australia, sees his next vocation to serve the Lutheran Church through this vital role as Director – Lutheran Youth of Queensland as an honour and privilege. He has served the Church as a key educator and leader in four (4) of our Lutheran Schools and also served as Director of Leadership and School Improvement at Lutheran Education Queensland. In this role he served our District, working with the 26 schools, guiding Principals’ and Leadership teams in their pursuit to create expert teaching teams, create explicit improvement agendas, analysis, and discussion of data, differentiated learning and teaching, and the development of effective school-community partnerships. Serving in this role, he successfully developed a comprehensive network of professional trust through relationship, authenticity, and impact that will be significant in the partnerships LYQ shares and values with our schools, and through our youth and camping ministries.

Darren is experienced in matters of compliance, administration, outdoor education and camping, school ministry and leadership, leading and managing staff, leading strategy, implementing operational initiatives, and possesses effective church literacy and business acumen. He has a background in Governance as a past Council member at Redeemer Lutheran College, Chair of LYQ Council which included membership on the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District Governance Change Project and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The learnings from these roles will place him in a valuable position for guiding and supporting the work of the LYQ Council in this transitionary phase.

Darren has a heart for ministry. He places high value on sharing the gospel with young people each day through experiential learning, devotions, and speaking hope into their daily lives. In addition,

Darren is a regular writer and contributor of daily devotions for the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.

As the new Director of Lutheran Youth of Queensland, Darren believes that as an experienced Lutheran educator, leader, administrator, and learning community partner, he will cherish the daily walk with pastors, youth workers, lay workers, principals, students, congregations, parents, camp staff, ministry providers and key stakeholders. At the core of his call to this vocation is the LYQ mission to encourage, empower, equip, and involve young people in opportunities to grow and serve in the love of Jesus Christ, through the people serving in the valuable ministries of the department.

We look to continue the rich and growing ministry LYQ provides for our Church through this appointment.

Janelle Anderson
Acting Chair, Lutheran Youth of Queensland Council