You wrote:

<<To adopt that position, and join the search for the so-called "historical Jesus" is to leave Christianity.>>

Nonsense. In fact an interest in HJ preceded my return to the church.

And now you've dodged the issue. "The Twelve" (disciples) appear symbolic of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the gospels they are sent out as emissaries, not priests. Jesus was not descended from the priestly Levite tribe (or so we are led to believe). The association in Hebrews of Jesus with the OT bit player Melchizedek is an anomaly. And the notion that Jesus could've traveled all over the Galilean countryside with twelve women disciples because he was God and could do anything he wanted to is ludicrous.

This excuse for denying women entry to the priesthood is both dubious and anachronistic.