It’s a dramatic, unforgettable transformation. But Dr. Gray has ulterior motives. “Impact and education,” says Dr. Gray, educator, historian and writer. “Read the papers today and you’ll find presidential approval ratings at an all-time low, rampant government corruption, and citizen confidence slipping. I wondered what made these other men so great? Why do they remain American heroes? How could I convey their spirit and values to today’s Americans?”

For Dr. Gray it meant the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk. He literally climbed into their shoes and came up with some answers. “It was the ‘vision thing,’” he says of these past leaders. “They were not afraid to embrace new ideas and radical change. They were all very smart—chess smart, in that they thought out the potential consequences of their actions. They turned international threats (both real and imagined) into victories for America. They were visionaries decades ahead of their times. They were leaders who time has proved were on the correct side of the issues.”

As Dr. Gray sees it, few leaders in American history have ever had this sense of timeless, global, and moral vision.

In his new book, Mr. Presidents: Voices of Freedom, Equality, and Dignity, (The Presidential Press, ISBN: 0-9774194-0-1) with Erma Steward, the award-winning portrayer of Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Gary presents these speeches and revisits moments in history in a most entertaining way.

“Our world changed because of a few key guys. I present the essence of what that person was thinking at the time—like FDR having a vision for the future and rallying a nation. I study every aspect of the lives of each and every one of these giants from birth to death,” says Dr. Gray.

And how did he choose the leaders he decided to portray? “Some of it was personal, some of it was just natural—many of us would have chosen some of the same people,” says Dr. Gray. In a C-Span survey of Presidential Leadership, www.americanpresidents.org, in the category of ‘Performance within the Context of Times,’ Abraham Lincoln topped the charts immediately followed by Franklin Roosevelt. George Washington made third, with Thomas Jefferson in seventh place.

(“Mr. Presidents: Voices of Freedom, Equality, and Dignity” by Gary Gray, Ed.D with Erma Stewart; ISBN: to come; $22.95; soft cover; size; 304 pages; PRESIDENTIAL PRESS)

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The historical experiences of religious congregations are as varied as they are numerous. One fact sticks out above all the rest when planning to research and write a congregational history—it is always best to involve someone other than just the oldest and most interested members of the congregation in the actual research and writing. This may seem contradictory, but it doesn’t mean that these people shouldn’t be interviewed, just that they should not be in charge, as most frequently they are.

Rather, church histories need liveliness and a bit of detachment that either newer members or, preferably, non-members may be able to provide. It’s a matter of achieving distance and perspective.

The best church histories are really searches for what has enlivened the congregation or threatened it with extinction. Discovering these facts and laying them out for all to see make church histories more lively and useful to present and future congregations and their members. Histories, especially church histories, should not be chronicles of the dead or dying [especially if that describes the current status of the congregation itself ] but rather blueprints from the past that point toward enlivening the present and shaping the future.

This is just one of the methods in writing interesting and memorable church histories that the American Consultation on Church History can provide. Your committee enjoys the freedom to discover sources, identify and contact individuals for interviews, and lead the overall effort within the congregation. We can do the rest, up to and including assembling the final research, writing and publishing according to your specifications. Additional services may include video oral history interviews, transcripts, or scanning and arrangement of historical photos and documents.

Writing a congregational history is something that should be done at least every generation, with digital resources that will remain useful for decades to come both to your members and to your outreach program. Costs for the American Consultation on Church History services are reasonable and adjusted to meet your specific needs.

If you need help producing a church history that will benefit your current members and attract new ones, contact us at: 800-762-6759 or americanstainedglass@gmail.com for additional information.

Dr. William S. Worley, our Church Historical Consultant, teacher and author, is available to assist your congregation.

Dr. William S. Worley, Vice President of Consultative Services has a Ph.D. in History from the University of Kansas, an M.A. in Religious Studies (emphasis in American Religious History) from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, and a B.A. in English from Kansas State University. He is grounded in Midwestern values and understands the role and function of church congregations in contemporary America.

Together with Dr. Gary Gray, one of the country’s foremost consultants in stained glass conservation and renewal, Dr. Worley offers both stained glass expertise and leadership in American Consultation on Stained Glass’s new Church History consulting service.

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Until now, the answer was usually “priceless” or, at best, a guess.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the religious community and the stained glass and insurance industries, however, the value of many of America’s most dramatic stained glass windows have been determined and compiled in The Stained Glass Appraisal Guide. The book, available at most books stores or online at PresidentialPress.com and Americanstainedglass.org also provides guidelines for churches and insurance companies to determine the value of windows not featured in the 256-page book.

Researched and produced by stained glass consultant and author Dr. Gary M. Gray, The Stained Glass Appraisal Guide is filled will color photos of some of the most dramatic stained glass windows found across America, a brief history of each and their value based on a consensus of a panel representing executives of the leading stained glass studios in America.

“The stained glass industry has long sought a consensus on replacement value of their work but was too competitive to collaborate on such a project alone,” said Gray. “And pastors and church lay leaders were increasingly concerned about the replication costs of some of their most prized and valued assets. But it ultimately was the urging of leaders in the insurance industry that led to the creation of this book.”

The book also includes guidelines to plan for new stained glass windows as well as instructions on how to restore, protect and insulate aging stained glass.

“Throughout America -- and the world -- there are stained glass windows in imminent danger of fire, accidents, vandalism, burglary and weather,” said Gray. “Among the many tragedies of Hurricane Katrina, for example, was the loss of many beautiful, historic stained glass windows.”

A million-dollar investment

High quality pictorial stained glass currently cost from $800 to $1,000 per square foot. At those levels, it takes only 1,000 square feet of stained glass to top the $1 million mark in artwork.

Gray, who has inspected and appraised stained glass in more than 2,000 churches and synagogues throughout the United States, estimates that from 3,000 to 4,000 congregations in America have stained glass in excess of $1 million per site.

“The purpose was to create a single resource for church and synagogue leaders as well as the insurance industry that provides a consensus on the replacement value of stained glass,” said Dr Gray. “But we also wanted to create a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive look at these art treasures that are on display to the general public daily.”

The windows featured in the book represent a cross section of the stained glass in Catholic, Protestant churches, and Hebrew synagogues in America.

Most of the windows featured were inspected by the American Consultation on Stained Glass. The remaining windows were provided by Rohlf Studios in New York, Conrad Schmitt Studios in Milwaukee, Judson Stained Glass in California, Reinarts Stained Glass in Minnesota and Salem Stained Glass in North Carolina.

“This guide is a must have for any religious institution that has stained glass or is thinking about commissioning stained glass,” said David Judson, president, Judson Stained Glass. “Religious structures hold some of the best examples of the medium and this guide will help ‘rediscover’ the value of these windows both artistically and financially.”

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Editors / Producers: For more information, review copies, high resolution color images or to arrange interviews, contact Scott White at (972) 490-0903 or scottwhite@bizcompr.com

FACT SHEET

The Stained Glass Appraisal Guide

• Authors: Information compiled by Dr. Gary M. Gray and Carrie Crow
• Pages: 256
• Publisher: The Presidential Press, Edmond, Oklahoma
• Color photos: More than 250
• Web site: PresidentialPress.com
• Availability: Books can be purchased online at PresidentialPress.com and Amazon.com. Bulk orders are available by calling 1-800-762-6759. For stained glass consultation, please check AmericanStainedGlass.org.

The process

Approximately 30 stained glass studio executives answered an extensive questionnaire seeking input on sample windows throughout the United States. The judges included:

• Steve Wilson (Art Glass by Wells)
• Eric Ascalon (Ascalon Studios)
• Ettore C. Botti (Botti Studios of Architectural Arts, Inc.)
• Larry and Ken Casola (Casola Stained Glass)
• Paul Pickel (Conrad Pickel Studio Inc.)
• Gunar Gruenke (Conrad Schmitt Studios)
• Karen S. Armentrout (Cottage Glass)
• Kirk Reber (Creative Glassworks)
• Andrew Paremski (Enterprise Art)
• Troy J. Knight (Glass by Knight)
• Pat Haeger (Haeger Stained Glass)
• Judith and James VanWie (Hiemer & Co. Stained Glass Studio)
• Michael Hope (Hope Stained Glass)
• David Gomm (Imagine Stained Glass)
• John Kebrle (Kebrle Stained Glass)
• Roy Loman (Loman Studios)
• Tim Smith (Moss Stained Glass)
• Jim Perry (Perry Stained Glass)
• Dale Preston (Preston Art Glass Studio)
• John M. Raynal (Raynal Studios)
• Bill Reinarts (Reinarts Stained Glass)
• Peter and Hans Rohlf (Rohlf ’s Studio)
• Susan Louise Firpo (SLFirpo Design/Craft)
• Randall Leever (The Boulder Stained Glass Studios)
• Jamie Jones (The Leaded Glass Studio)
• Duncan Tooley (Tooley Art Glass Studio)
• Jack Whitworth (Whitworth Stained Glass)
• Reggie Buehrer (Window Creations)

Use of stained glass in America

There are approximately 400,000 religious buildings in America and the vast majority have some form of inspirational glass.

An estimated 3,000-4,000 congregations in America today have stained glass in excess of $1 million per site.

High quality pictorial stained glass today is often commissioned at $800-$1,000 per square foot.

News media contact

For more information, review copies, high resolution color images or to arrange interviews, contact Scott White at (972) 490-0903 or scottwhite@bizcompr.com

WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS SAYING ABOUT THE STAINED GLASS APPRAISAL GUIDE

“The 2008-2009 Stained Glass Appraisal Guide is an essential and important tool for American religious institutions. For the first time, both the insurance and the stained glass industries have combined to provide this valuable information to assist in the appraisal value and replication costs for your stained glass windows. It is in the best interest of all institutions to make sure their insurance and fine art policies are current.”
— Peter Rohlf, chairman, Rohlf Studios

“The day for a long overdue Stained Glass Appraisal Guide has dawned…We hope that people will utilize and refer back to this guide to make educated decisions about preserving stained glass so that gorgeous artistry may shine for future generations.”
— Gunar Gruenke, vice president, Conrad Schmitt Studios Inc.

“This guide is a must have for any religious institution that has stained glass or is thinking about commissioning stained glass. Religious structures hold some of the best examples of the medium and this guide will help you ‘rediscover’ the value of your windows both artistically and financially.”
— David Judson, president, Judson Stained Glass

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We at the American Consultation on Stained Glass are constantly searching for ways to assist the many churches and synagogues we serve throughout the nation. So here are a couple tried and true ways fundraising projects we can help you initiate.

Window Cards

The American Consultation on Stained Glass will prepare personalized window cards for you free as part of our service to your congregation. The personalized cards can then be attached to the windows, listing individual restoration needs, replacement values (replication costs) and the amounts needed for family adoption. Th e minister, priest or rabbi announce the windows are available for adoption and encourages the congregation to inspect each card and window. Th is idea is also written up for the newsletter and repeated over a period of time until the window project is funded. Normally, the goals are reached faster than expected!

Church Replicas

Through American Consultation on Stained Glass, your church can have a ceramic replica made by artisans. Congregations love these works of art, making them an effective fundraiser.

Whenever you decide to start fundraising for your church’s stained glass, know that we at the American Consultation on Stained Glass are here to help. Please contact us at 800-762-6759 or americanstainedglass@gmail.com for additional information.

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