A. Powell Davies

[1] A prolific author of theological books and sermon collections, he came to national prominence in the U.S. through his liberal activism advocating civil rights for African-Americans and women and ethical stands against post-war nuclear proliferation[2] and the methods employed by the American government during the era of McCarthyism.

After working briefly as a clerk for a shipping company, he moved to London as secretary to a strike leader who had been elected Labour MP.

In Portland, he worked as a used car salesman for a week in order to investigate the question of whether or not it was possible to be a businessman and adhere to "Christian" honesty and integrity; he then wrote a strong critique of prevailing business practices.

Citing the Boston minister, William Ellery Channing (1780-1842),[3] who had called Unitarianism the "universal church", Davies became increasingly active in denominational affairs.

He joined the New York City Council of Churches, where he met and befriended the Unitarian activist minister John Haynes Holmes (1879-1964),[4] and became acquainted with Margaret Sanger (1879-1966), the founder of Planned Parenthood.

He advocated the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and, while generally against Communism, decried the methods and hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).