LAKELAND — Florida is second only to Pennsylvania in the number of hate crimes reported in the state, says Lois Dauway, assistant general secretary of Christian Social Responsibility at the General Board of Global Ministries’ (GBGM) Women’s Division.

That statistic was news to many of the nearly 40 members of United Methodist Women’s (UMW) units from throughout the Florida Conference attending a day-long workshop on racism and hate titled "All God’s Children Got a Place in the Choir."

The workshop, held last May at the United Methodist building here, was designed to help the women become more aware of the incidence of hate crimes and racism in Florida and offer tools to help lead workshops back in their districts, according to conference UMW President Annie Woods. Conference officers and two members from each district were invited.

Dauway also shared statistics from a 1997 report on Florida hate crimes issued by Attorney General Bob Butterworth’s office. Although the number of reported hates crimes in Florida decreased by 21.5 percent, the number of crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation rose 267 percent. Dauway added that Butterworth’s office knew of 40 hate groups operating throughout Florida as of the winter of 1998.

Dauway says it is not just a fight against racism, but systematic oppression and a host of -isms, such as classism, sexism and ageism. The goal, she says, is multiculturalism — recognizing, understanding and appreciating cultures other than one’s own.

"One of our barriers in this country is thinking we all have to sing the same song…People fear difference," Dauway said. "We need to create a climate where people can be different."

To help the group appreciate their own similarities and differences, Dauway asked them to break into small groups to discuss their family histories.

Debra Grey, a member of a UMW unit in Ft. Pierce, shared the segregation her relatives faced as American Indians.

Both her great grandmothers were part of the Creek tribe in Georgia. One married a wealthy farmer, but was isolated from the community, even though she attended church. Grey says their children and grandchildren did not identify themselves as American Indian.

"It was never talked about or mentioned; it wasn’t a classy thing" she said. "It may have been seen as a weakness."

Grey, who is one-fourth American Indian, says she wishes she knew more about her heritage.

Dauway says there are some things women can do now to help United Methodists in their districts learn to appreciate people’s differences and fight oppression.

She urged them to form a task force to investigate hate crimes in their communities and report them to GBGM’s Ministries in the Midst of Hate and Violence for its Hate Crimes Data Collection Project Resource Guide.

She also encouraged them to write letters to the editors of local newspapers, call radio and television stations to express concern when broadcasting inaccurately represents groups, and do "what’s ours," holding prayer vigils or coordinating outreach programs.

"We need counter-voices…," she said. "If we don’t challenge, we will be forever locked in these boxes of understanding."