As however the ancients say that in case of necessity any Christian lay person can administer the sacrament of Baptism, so Luther says the same thing about absolution in case of necessity, where no priest is present.

Martin Chemnitz (November 9 1522 – April 8 1586) was an eminent second-generation Lutheran theologian reformer churchman and confessor. He is commemorated as a pastor and confessor in the Lutheran Service Book of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on November 9.