The bishop in charge of the move towards women bishops in the Church of England said today that it would be "illogical" to have women priests without women bishops.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu, also gave their backing to the proposals, but called for "further exploration" of the issues because the bishops were "not of one mind".

In a note to the Church’s General Synod, Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu warn the Church that it is approaching a "significant fork in the road."

They say: "Decisions about the episcopate affect our fundamental identity as part of the Church of God and need to be taken in the context of sustained and prayerful reflection."

The Bishop of Guildford, the Right Rev Christopher Hill, said: "Just as the Church of England ordains women to the priesthood, it is right for the Church of England to ordain women to the episcopate. But that is not the end of the story."

As The Times reported exclusively last week, the Church of England is to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops, with the first woman to be ordained in 2012, according to a report by a group chaired by Bishop Hill.

The Guildford group report was published today after a "robust" meeting of the Church of England’s bishops in Leeds.

Bishop Hill admitted there had been deep opposition to the proposals, known as Tea, or transferred episcopal arrangements.

He said: "There are some who are not convinced, others who think it not the right time and others who think it could be a way forward provided the Church wants to make it work."

His personal view was that it was time for the Church to move forwards on the issue. His group’s proposals would remove any legal bar on a woman becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Hill said: "I believe we have a duty to look for a way through this." He said 2012 was "possible" but was not prepared to commit himself or the bishops to this date.

He continued: "I do not think it is logical to put a permanent divide between the presbyterate and the episcopate."

The report, to be debated at next month’s meeting of the Synod, proposes the grounding of the three "flying bishops" consecrated to care for traditionalist opponents of women priests. In their place will rise up a new hybrid, the PRB, shorthand for "provincial regional bishop".

Constituting a cross between a flying bishop and an archbishop, the PRB will answer direct to the archbishop of his province and will carry out ordinations, confirmations, the issue of licences and other duties such as episcopal visitations for parishes unable to accept the ministry of a woman bishop or priest.

The proposals are causing deep controversy and bishops are conceding privately that the hoped-for date of 2012 for the first female consecrations is unlikely to be achieved.

The report itself warns of "significant implications" and already the Roman Catholic Church has issued a scathing critique, warning that women bishops would "radically" impair relations between the two churches.

Bishop Hill, a leading ecumenist who comes himself from the catholic wing of the Church of England, conceded that the Catholic Church response was "important" but said that there were already matters between the two churches that needed to be addressed.

Referring to the 19th century papal bull that dismissed Anglican orders as "null and void", Bishop Hill said: "There are other significant issues up for discussion, not least that the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise any ministry within the Church of England."

Rebel bishops have failed in their attempt to delay the whole process by a further five or ten years, but significant opposition from the synod next month could still stall the process.

Traditionally, the strongest opposition to the ministry of women has come from the Church’s laity. More than 2,000 clergy, laity and bishops are expected to launch a campaign against the plans at an emergency rally at Westminster Central Hall in London at the end of January.

They are seeking what they term "sacramental assurance" for traditionalists. The rally’s organisers, Forward in Faith, have accepted that women bishops are inevitable and do not want a delay, preferring to go to battle now rather than in five years' time.

However, there is unlikely to be a further large exodus from the Church over women bishops. Most who could not accept women’s ordination under any circumstances, more than 400 priests, left after the first women were ordained in 1994. But 70 have subsequently returned and women now account for 16 per cent of full-time clergy.

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