I'm setting up a template like this. However the order in the admin does not correspond to these numbers. I've refreshed the front end page and the admin.

Has the way you set the order changed?

<cms:template title='Mission' >
<cms:editable order='10' name='article_heading' label='Article Heading' type='text' />
<cms:editable order='20' name='article' label='Main Content' type='richtext' />
<cms:editable order='900' name='page_title' label='SEO Page Title Tag' type='text' />
<cms:editable order='910' name='page_description' label='SEO Page Description Tag' type='text' />
</cms:template>

[KK]

Your code appears to be fine to me and should work.
From what I can see, the regions should appear in the order they are defined (higher the 'order' value, lower down the region appears).

If that is not happening then perhaps you are missing that crucial step of visiting the changed template as super-admin?
I know you mentioned about refreshing the frontend page but this, sometimes (and particularly to those new to Couch), proves to be tricky - please try the method suggested in the following thread for ensuring that the mandatory visit as super-admin is indeed happening -
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8059

Hope this helps.