Sangha. The First Jewel?

In the Triratna Buddhist Community traditionally we begin a period of meditation by saluting the shrine while paying homage to The Three Jewels. The Three Jewels are The Buddha, The Dharma ( The Teachings ) and The Sangha ( The Spiritual Community ) in that order.

In  view of The Buddha's central teaching, that is to say impermanance and continuous change and the importance he gave to The Sangha I wonder if actually the order should be The Sangha, The Dharma and The Buddha.
 I know this is heresy but consider this. Ananda his loyal monk and continual attendent said to The Buddha in a conversation about spiritual friendship.
 " Venerable Sir, this is half the spiritual life, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship"

To which The Buddha replied.

"Not so, Ananda. Not so Ananda. This is the entire spiritual life Ananda. That is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship."

Why did I also put The Dharma second and The Buddha last? My reasoning is as follows; The Dharma has undergone subtle changes over the last 2500 years or so, especially as it was taken up in different countries and cultures, but nevertheless still continues. The historical Buddha while of course continuing as an ideal to emulate is dead. The Sangha as the vehicle for The Dharma is always changing as members leave and others join but is the powerhouse behind our practice.

So perhaps The Buddha would be horrified at the possibility of his teachings being ' fixed ' by rigid doctrinel methods in which he is made a God and not just the great awakened man and teacher that he was?

Consider also this quote by The Buddha from the Kalama Sutra;

Do not believe just because wise men say so.
Do not believe just because it has always been that way.
Do not believe just because others may believe so.
Examine, and experience yourself.

Ritual has an important place in our practice but we must not let it obscure or stop us thinking about the meaning of The Buddha's teaching.