Religion: Concentrated Collections

U.S. churches are about to achieve unity on one subject: money. This fall, for the first time in history, 15 denominations will join in a United Church Canvass to make their annual appeals for money simultaneously. U.C. Canvass will concentrate pledges in two periods, Nov. 15-Dec. 6 and Feb. 21-March 14.

The scheme got a tryout in Newton, Mass, last November, where every one of the 28 Christian and Jewish churches that took part raised a larger sum than it had the previous year—at a total promotional cost of only $45 per church for $250,000 raised.