Return to Greek on that passage - I think you will be interested in the other possible translations. The church is not the organization Peter led - that's a representation of the church. The map is not the territory.
Discussion
Yes -- petros (~pebble) is the man speaking; petra (~boulder) is the truth spoken. It's on the latter, not the former, upon which the church is built. It's about what is taught, not who is teaching (as we see in Galatians 1--"even if *we* or an angel from heaven..."). I believe not in a 'succession of popes/men,' but in a 'succession of truth,' i.e., the 'faith once delivered.'
I saw your longer response (thank you very much for taking the time to write that), but am headed out for a few hours with my oldest son. I look forward to responding thoughtfully, hopefully later tonight.
Okay, enjoy your evening. If I come across as angsty, sorry, it's just what happens - I get a bug up my butt and have to criticize everything.
Nah, I didn't get that, just disagreement on something that matters a lot to both of us.
> In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things about which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight.
-- J. Gresham Machen
I'm the same way sometimes. We good.