The Church Both Roman Catholics and Lutherans teach that Jesus Christ has founded the holy Christian church through His apostles and commissioned it to preach His Gospel to the nations, and that He is present with His people in it to forgive and save and sanctify them. Also, He has instituted the office of the holy ministry (or of the pastor), into which men should be called to preach His Word and administer the sacraments in His name. Christians must obey their pastor when such obedience involves