Latest adventures from behind the pulpit

The word "gospel" may mean "good news," but sometimes for members of the clergy exposure is nothing but "bad news." Here's a rundown of the latest adventures of several prominent pastors. Some have been naughty, some very nice and some continue to struggle with that age-old conflict of being men of God, while still being mortal.

Here's a glimpse:

Priest runs down thief

WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it "Godspeed." A Washington priest went sprinting through the streets, just before Mass, to recover collection money that a thief swiped from the church safe.

"I said, 'Hey, I'm going to go catch a thief,"' the Rev. Bill Hegedusich told startled congregants at St. Peter's church on Capitol Hill as he bounded through the church door. Hegedusich said the man had taken two bags of money, totaling about $125, from an unlocked safe.

The 48-year-old marathon runner, clad in his black shirt and white clerical collar, said he chased the man for about two blocks and yelled at him to return the money. The man threw one bag on the ground and kept running. Hegedusich returned with the single bag. He estimated that he recovered about $60.

No arrests have been made.

The priest called it "disheartening" that someone made off with offerings for the poor.

"It's not my typical Sunday morning, I'll tell you that," added Hegedusich, who celebrated the 11 a.m. Mass a few minutes late.

Schullers split

The Rev. Robert A. Schuller, ousted in October as the preacher of the long-running Christian television program "Hour of Power," has resigned as senior pastor at the Crystal Cathedral and plans to open his own ministry.

Church founder Robert H. Schuller removed his son as the sole preacher on the 39-year-old television show after the younger Schuller, three years into the job, refused to rotate his role with other pastors, the church said.

The younger Schuller, recently returned from a speaking engagement in Brazil, declined to be interviewed. Church officials said they weren't in the loop about his plans.

Rick Mysse, a pastor with the Schullers denomination, the Reformed Church of America, said 25 pastors were lined up to speak on "Hour of Power," a handful of whom have already recorded shows, including Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels. "Not a single person has turned us down that we've asked," Mysse said.