Effort to become minister a bewitching saga

Cyndi Simpson doesn't ride a broomstick and she doesn't read the Bible.

But the Bon Air woman, who says her religion is witchcraft, is headed to a Christian seminary this fall.

Her goal is to attend Lancaster Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ school in Pennsylvania and become a Unitarian Universalist minister.

But to be ordained in the Unitarian Universalist church, she must have a master of divinity degree from an accredited seminary.

Note that: Simpson says her faith is often misunderstood. Chesterfield County is appealing a federal district court ruling that would allow Simpson to lead the invocation at Board of Supervisors meetings. Judeo-Christian clergy on a volunteer list generally give the customary prayer to open meetings. When the board refused to add Simpson to the list, she sued and won.

Virginians' tax dollars at work.