Anglican ministers from communities caught up in the weekend's hostility say a culture of disobedience is contributing to the city's woes.
"The law is regularly broken on the weekend through speeding, loud music and ignoring parking and turning signs," says the rector of Brighton-Rockdale, the Rev Ian Cox.
"People become brazen in their disobedience of the law because there is no policing," he says.
Lack of policingMr Cox, who lives along side Bay Street, the main thoroughfare for Brighton-le-Sands, says groups of over 50 people were congregating in the streets during the past weekend.
Two-kilometres of surrounding roads from Bestic Street through to President Avenue were blocked off by late in the evening as dozens of riot police marched through local streets.
"We didn't have any serious problems. They weren't throwing bricks or anything like that."
However, Mr Cox says lawlessness in the Brighton area is a regular occurrence.
"Part of the problem is that like Cronulla, there is limited police resources in the area. The closest to us is Rockdale which is a limited police station."
Sydney's tribal culture
The rector of Cronulla, the Rev Richard Humphries agrees recent events reflect an unruly culture that has become par-for-the-course.
"The Kingsway is usually loud - it’s a glorious three lane racetrack and does get used as such," he says.
"You hear the squeals, and once Northy’s closes at night there’s not much point in us going to bed till we know it's emptied out."
But he is at pains to point out the problem is not simply a local one.
The growth of tribal attitudes to various locations are dividing the community.
"The Middle Eastern communities make their presence felt on the weekend," Mr Humphries says. "And they often consider some parks to be part of their property."
However the problem seems to have more to do with Sydney's youth culture than its mix of ethnicity.
"There is often a large, young male presence but they act like any large group of young males might," he says.
Time for repentance
In nearby Miranda, Assistant Minister the Rev Graeme Howells says many of his church members will be working to demonstrate a different response to events that have polarised the community.
"A number of our members belong to the Cronulla branch of Christian Surfers and they are going to be seeking to witness to people," he says.
Part of their witness will be breaking down the stereotypes that have been used to divide the Shire.
"Often people think the label Christian means you must hate other religions," Mr Howells says.
"And so you have people thinking "you must be on our side'"
Miranda's scripture teachers have been encountering these "us and them' attitudes, based on religion at the youngest levels.
"The last two weeks we’ve had kids in class assuming that if you're a Caucasian, you're a Christian, if you're Middle Eastern you’re a Muslim," Mr Howell says.
"But what you believe has no relevance to where you’re from for a start. Part of our response will be underlining what is really at the heart of the Christian culture."
Mr Humphries says responses to the weekend's clashes will have to consider the spiritual issues of rebellion and reconciliation.
"I’m trying to get the local ministers together for prayer and repentance. I think we have to in some ways repent of our culture."
Addressing the root cause
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, says in an official media statement that it’s time all community leaders faced up to the very real tensions in the city.
"It is quite clear that tension has been building under a surface of apparent community harmony for some time. We must look to the root causes of this social disharmony, seek authentic information about them, and deal with those matters.
"We look to the State Government to create a framework of personal safety and the rule of law that is the precondition for the survival of the tolerant community we desire. All citizens must pledge themselves to supporting appropriate measures from government and community leaders. Faith leaders will have much to do in their communities to assist."
Dr Jensen also points out that Christian Australians should remember that Jesus was Middle-Eastern.
"We are now moving swiftly into the Christmas season. It is a time when Christians remember the birth of the Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth, who entered this world in a nation divided and under threat from an oppressor. He was a citizen in that part of the world we now call the Middle East," he says
"Jesus himself modelled values of peace and justice. The early Christian community was taught to live in harmony with one another, and not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. These are the values of Jesus' kingdom that, if they are in evidence in a society, will bring peace and harmony to all."
