LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Khader El-Yateem upon the occasion of
his 10th Anniversary in the ministry, to be celebrated on February 14,
2009

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life in
this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the faithful
concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their energies
and purpose to the ministry of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recog-
nition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish themselves
and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preeminence of
service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Khader
El-Yateem upon the occasion of his 10th Anniversary in the ministry, to
be celebrated on February 14, 2009; and
WHEREAS, A native of the West Bank of Palestine, Khader El-Yateem
graduated from high school in 1968, and proceeded to study at the Beth-
lehem Bible College, where he received a Diploma in Theology, and the
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, where he received a
Bachelor of Arts degree; and
WHEREAS, Invited by the ELCA to work as a missionary developer among
the Arab and Middle Eastern community in the United States, Khader
El-Yateem then studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Phila-
delphia, where he received a Master of Divinity degree; and
WHEREAS, Khader El-Yateem was called by the Division For Outreach to
start the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York, in 1999,
which became the first official Arabic Lutheran Church in North America;
and
WHEREAS, In October 2000, Khader El-Yateem was asked by civic leaders
in the Bay Ridge community to help establish a committee to bring the
Christian, Jewish and Arabic communities together to live in peace; he
opened his church to all and successfully helped the committee to bring
the various groups together; and
WHEREAS, As a result of this successful venture, Khader El-Yateem
asked Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes to co-chair a borough-
wide Unity Task Force, which has also been successful in bringing
together various ethnic and religious groups in the region; and
WHEREAS, With Khader El-Yateem throughout have been his wife, Grace,
and their four children, Rowan, Janette, Naim and Isabelle, all of whom
feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his many
achievements; and
WHEREAS, Khader El-Yateem has brought to his ministry an overwhelming
spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and enlightenment
in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties, while always
displaying the highest standards of personal and professional integrity
and dedication; and
WHEREAS, This distinguished man of God has always given enlightenment,
guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and has adminis-
tered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of
all; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that indi-
vidual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Khader El-Yateem upon the occasion of his 10th Anniversary in
the ministry, to be celebrated on February 14, 2009 noting his unremit-

ting and compassionate faith and his exemplary service to God, man, and
his community, and extending to him the heartfelt best wishes of this
Legislative Body for a future of purposeful success and well-being; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Khader El-Yateem.