[edwinland]

Apostolic Succession, and its validity, can be addressed in many different ways. The most traditional method is to look at the theory of Apostolic Succession in a mechanical sense. (ie, in Rome St. Paul laid his hand’s on Linus, who laid his hands on Clement, and so on, and so on, and so on . . . .etc.) There are, indeed, various historical problems involved in this scheme,

You didn't read it correctly. The Methodist author is criticizing that approach just the same way you are. The author is agreeing that that way of understanding apostolic succession has historical problems. You are also saying that that way of understanding apostolic succession has historical problems.

Please read it again, because I think you missed his further point on the correct way to think about apostolic succession.

[CynicalBear]

I can read it all day long and it still ends up that this whole “apostolic succession” thing is based on falsehoods.