Rev. Daniel Charles Davis was born in Michigan in 1960. One of his earliest religious experiences was seeing the Beatles when he was five. When he was seven, his Presbyterian Sunday school class sponsored an orphan in India. This taught him that actions speak louder than words when it comes to matters of faith. His mother, who was very active in the church, died when he was fifteen. Around that time, his faith grew more conservative and he started considering a career in the ministry. While earning his BA degree in Psychology at Alma College in Michigan, he was influenced by religion professors and chaplains that encouraged a more thoughtful Christianity which was more about loving your neighbor than judging them. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1987 and Master of Divinity degree from McCormick in 1988.

While at seminary Charlie became a Unitarian, deciding that the humble teachings of Jesus were more helpful than the Church's teachings about Jesus which exalted him to the position of Christ. He became a Universalist when he could no longer believe that a loving God could have created Hell. He joined 1st Unitarian Church of Chicago in 1988. He now considers himself a Transcendentalist along the lines of 19th century Unitarians Emerson, Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller. Each person has divinity within themselves that connects them with the divinity that can be found in nature, science and world religions.

In 1988, he married Gail and helped raise her two children, Jon and Devon. A son, Benjamin, was born to them in 1992. As an interracial couple, they have worked to further reconciliation among all people. Gail is a talented vocalist and Charlie writes music on guitar and mountain dulcimer. They enjoy singing together and have performed professionally.

Before becoming a UU minister in 1995, Charlie worked with hospice and the A.I.D.S. Resource Center of Wisconsin. He has been active in advocating for the rights of sexual minorities and has officiated at gay and lesbian union ceremonies. He ministered with The Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists in Maryland from 1996 to 2000. Since that time, he has been privileged to serve with the UU fellowship of Winston-Salem.

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