The Mediation Network for Northern Ireland has responded cautiously to an invitation from clergy of the main religious denominations to intervene in the dispute over Orange parades on Belfast's Lower Ormeau Road.
The Ballynafeigh Clergy Fellowship, representing the Upper Ormeau area, indicated that its approach reflected the "beginnings of a new climate" in the aftermath of the vote on the Belfast Agreement.
The fellowship said in a statement: "We are anxious about the continuing impasse and the community tension occasioned at times by it.
"However, we also sense the beginnings of a new climate encouraged by the recent referendum vote. These things move us to search for another initiative.
"As a result, we wish to make public our invitation to the Mediation Network as a community relations organisation with experience of the parades conflict to explore the possibility of moving matters forward in a positive way."
The statement had the support of senior figures in the Catholic and Protestant churches in the North. The Presbyterian chairman of the fellowship, the Rev Wilfred Orr, said that for all the criticism levelled at the politicians they had nevertheless found the means of communicating during the peace process. "They have set an example to us."
The director of the Mediation Network, Mr Brendan McAllister, expressed caution. "Given the publicly stated positions of all concerned, it would be wrong to assume that the Ormeau parades dispute is amenable to outside intervention.
"However, the Mediation Network will respond respectfully to this request from eminent clergy. We shall take soundings from those with a known interest in this problem and report back to the church leaders at the earliest opportunity."
Mr Gerard Rice of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community, representing nationalist residents, said he did not detect any change in attitude from the Orange Order. He pointed to the order's hosting of a press conference for politicians opposed to the Belfast Agreement.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell of the SDLP welcomed the clergy initiative.
"They are quite right to encourage dialogue through community relations networks and to seek to build upon the success of the people's vote on May 22nd," he said.
Mr David Adams of the Ulster Democratic Party, political wing of the UDA, also welcomed the initiative.