Debate on women bishops goes to General Synod The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, had warned that to vote against the legislation on women bishops would kill it off until 2015. Photograph: Claudio Onorati/EPA All houses of the Church of England have voted to send draft legislation on women bishops for debate in the General Synod, paving the way for a potentially historic session of the legislative body on Monday. The result will come as a relief to the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who warned the assembled clergy and bishops of Canterbury convocation that to vote against the legislation would kill it off until 2015. "I underline that because it's important we look into the abyss here," Williams said. Defeat of the legislation at this point - that is, convocation declaring that it should not go forward for discussion at General Synod - does not seem to be in anyone's interests if I may put a thumb in the scale. The house of laity, as well as the clergy and bishops of York and Canterbury convocations, voted on Friday for the measure to be debated before the entire Synod. Their decision came after disagreements over the legislation which, due to a last-ditch amendment, prompted criticism from supporters, as well as opponents, of female bishops. Shortly after the houses voted to send the legislation forward, technicians said the University of York campus, which is hosting the Synod, was struck by lightning, causing the internet to crash. Observers made unhappy comparisons with the consecration of David Jenkins, a prominent proponent of women bishops, after which York Minster was struck by lightning and partly destroyed by a fire. The draft legislation, which has been years in the making, could be finalised on Monday. A "yes" vote would allow women to enter the episcopate, perhaps by late next year but more likely in 2014. A vote against would, however, see the issue shelved until 2015. It is also possible that, due to concerns from senior women clergy about an amendment made by the house of bishops in May, the debate will be adjourned and the vote postponed until November. Those clergy and campaigners who have expressed alarm at the implications of clause 5 (1) c - which they say would institutionalise discrimination against women - hope that, if sent back to the bishops in September, the legislation might emerge in a more acceptable form in the autumn. Other supporters of women bishops have said they are risking public censure by seeking to delay an already long-poured over decision even further. In the house of laity on Friday, Christina Rees, a prominent campaigner for women bishops, said she objected to clause 5 (1) c and would be hoping for an adjournment on Monday. "[The amendment] has been rushed through," she told the house. But several others who are in favour of women bishops warned against such a strategy. Linda Ali, from York, urged the house to vote for it "with all its imperfections" and iron out its more troubling aspects further down the line. "Any process aiming to bring about major change such as this one ... cannot achieve its desired effect in one fell swoop," she said. We are aware that most laws do not stay on the statute books without being amended all the time. People are agents of change; practice becomes precedent and people will continue to amend and adjust to meet the needs of their time. I urge you that to send the amendments back to the bishops for further revision is extremely risky. Anne Martin, of Guilford, warned that an adjournment was no magic solution to the divisions that have plagued the debate for so long: "There is no guarantee that what comes back the second time is any better for some people than what we have now." Opponents who remain staunchly against the idea of women bishops expressed criticism of the draft legislation, which they say contains too few provisions for those parishes which will not want the ministry of a female bishop for theological reasons. If you wish to be gracious, please vote against because ... this measure does not provide proper provision for those in either the anglo-Catholic or conservative evangelical members of our family. They've made that very clear," said Susannah Leafe. Earlier, Williams expressed his desire to see the church act "as speedily as we can" to resolve the long-running dispute. "Like the majority of the members of Synod and the majority of members of the Church of England I am very firmly of the view that we need to proceed as speedily as we can to resolve this question because I, like most of you, long to see women bishops in the Church of England," he said.