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.

In a note to the 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 identity as part of the Church of God, and need to be taken in the context of 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 to ordain women to the episcopate.”

As The Times reported last week, the Church of England is to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops, with the first woman expected to be ordained in 2012, according to a report by a group chaired by Bishop Hill. He said that there had been opposition to the proposals, known as transferred episcopal arrangements (TEA).

The proposals would remove any bar on a woman becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. He said: “I do not think it is logical to put a permanent divide between the presbyterate and the episcopate.” The report, to be debated at the synod next month, proposes the grounding of the three “flying bishops”, consecrated to care for opponents of women priests.

A new hybrid, the provincial regional bishop (PRB), will replace them. The PRB will carry out ordinations, confirmations and other duties such as episcopal visitations for parishes unwilling to accept the ministry of a woman bishop or priest.

The proposals are causing deep controversy, and bishops are conceding that the estimated date of 2012 for the first consecrations of women is unlikely to be achieved.

The report gives warning of “significant implications”, and the Roman Catholic Church has issued a scathing critique, saying that women bishops would radically impair relations between the Churches.

Bishop Hill, a leading ecumenist who comes from the Catholic wing of the Church of England, conceded that the Catholic 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 stall the process but significant opposition from the synod next month could still cause a delay.

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