The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, has said an IRA move on decommissioning would unlock the entire political process.
Addressing the church's annual Synod in Armagh yesterday, the archbishop stressed, however, that such a gesture by republicans needed to be followed by a change in attitudes across society.
"I believe definite and verifiable destruction of paramilitary arms would have a conclusive and lasting effect not just on political life here but on the whole of our lives.
"If the IRA can match this demand I believe it will unlock an entire process. I would then hope that all other paramilitary groupings would do likewise.
"Today I believe there are grounds to hope that movement on decommissioning is imminent.
"I pray so. But once that happens responses are called for. "Decommissioning itself will not solve all our problems. But I believe it would be a major step forward.
"What then is needed is a change in attitude, a movement of minds and a resolve that the road ahead for us all can never again involve the warfare which has provided such tragedy in the past.
"Responses to decommissioning will be as important as decommissioning itself," Dr Eames said.
Sectarian clashes and the dispute engulfing Holy Cross school in north Belfast had given Protestantism a bad name across the world, even if a community's political orientation was not necessarily identical with its religious faith, Dr Eames said.
"No one can possibly justify the abuse, both physical and verbal, of children going to school.
"The scenes of violence against children portrayed across the world have branded religious as well as political Protestantism as unchristian bigots. But equally no one could possibly justify a summer of attacks on Protestant homes, intimidation of Protestant pensioners or young people.
"There are serious faults on both sides. There are two stories to be told. But whether we like it or not the outside world has passed judgment and that judgment does not distinguish between the political or the religious expression of a community," Dr Eames concluded.