Loren, 

Adventists are protestants.  The rule of faith is not councilliar nor papal; its scripture.    Each member is bound by conscience to follow the word of God.  Even in matters as trivial as kindling a fire on the Sabbath each believer has a sacred calling to serve God faithfully in good conscience. Who will judge God's servant?

There is a huge amount of scriptural authority which has to be brought to bear on the question of women ruling over men if they are ordained or commissioned to leadership.   To say a great deal of disagreement over this matter which troubles us is understatement. 

Please don't make the issue about contrived structures of church governance.  It is about the Bible. 

Equating legalizing marijuana with women's  ordination erases the jurisdictional boundaries between the city of man and the city of God. 

His kingdom is not of this world. We should always be about persuading and obeying, not controlling others.