Pastor Khader El-Yateem leaving Bay Ridge
Arab-American political leader celebrates last service Sunday
Bay Ridge is losing one of its most well-known Arab-American political and religious leaders.
The Rev. Khader El-Yateem, a Palestinian-born cleric who founded the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church 20 years ago and serves as its pastor, announced on Monday that he is leaving Brooklyn to move to Florida to head up Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Director of Ministries program in that state.
El-Yateem, 49, will celebrate his final service as pastor at Salam Arabic Lutheran Church on Sunday. Following the service, a reception will be held in his honor at the church.