About
The Latino Christian National Network (LCNN) is a community of Christian leaders committed to supporting each other as we seek to be faithful to Christ’s call to be the “salt of the earth.” For us, to be “salt of the earth” means to be an instrument of renewal and transformation.
Through our relationships, we encourage each other, participate in a mutual process of Christian maturity, and challenge each other to live out the principles of the gospel of Jesus faithfully. We engage in this process while belonging to diverse traditions. We recognize that the different expressions of faith, rather than dividing us, can contribute to our ever-growing understanding of God.
Unity is a fundamental value in our relationships. Our intention to grow in unity is based on Christ's desire for unity among his disciples.
“I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.” John 17:20-23 MSG
The unity of the Spirit respects our differences. We don’t seek or promote uniformity but, in spirit of humility, recognise the presence of Christ in each other.
We foster a framework of cooperation. The success or the personal influence of any individual leader is only celebrated to the extent that it contributes to the success of others and our community.
Together, we will seek to give a witness that honors God. We will work together for the advancement of our Latino community and the renewal of their faith.
History
The Latino Christian National Network (LCNN) is the successor of the CCT Latino Network, a network associated to Christian Churches Together in the USA. The CCT Latino Network was also the successor of a network of mainline Latino denominational staff. The Rev. Carlos Malavé, executive director of CCT at the time, facilitated the creation of the CCT Latino Network in 2014. The network was formed in the awareness that the growing presence and clout of the Hispanic community in the U.S., as a population with natural connections to both progressive and conservative values, could easily be manipulated and divided, weakening its potential for addressing the injustices that affect it. Rev. Malavé saw Hispanic churches as a natural base for creating significant dialogue about social issues on common sacred ground, working towards joint witness and action, and strengthening the ministries of the Latino Christian communities. The network provided a space to bring together the various streams of denominational and faith-based organizations across the conservative and progressive spectrum.
In 2021, following the inclines of the Holy Spirit, the leaders of the CCT Latino Network decided to establish the Latino Christian National Network as a separate organization. The decision to create the new organization happened naturally due to the increased relationships and cooperation developed during the coronavirus pandemic.