Andy Wood, Rick Warren's choice to succeed him as lead pastor of Saddleback Church, has apologised for inviting Mark Driscoll to a leadership conference.

The incoming pastor of Saddleback church interviewed Mark Driscoll in 2021 during the Echo Leadership Conference - an event organised by the church he was pastoring at the time. 

In a tweet, Pastor Andy said it was a "mistake and error".

In 2014, Mark Driscoll resigned as lead pastor of one of the most influential megachurches in the US, Mars Hill, following allegations of spiritual abuse and plagiarism against him. 
He now leads a church in Scottsdale, Arizona called The Trinity Church. 

Driscoll was invited to the conference to talk about helping pastors to "learn from his mistakes". 

A screenshot obtained by The Roys Report shows the description of the interview during the conference. Driscoll was expected to talk about "leading a church with his own family, the challenges that many ministry families face, and the power of forgiveness to sustain God's anointing on our lives".

The interview has now been deleted from the Echo leadership Conference website. 

Pastor Andy apologised to those offended by his decision to interview him. 

He said: "In the past I interviewed Mark Driscoll to help pastors learn from his mistakes. Since then additional controversy and pain has come out. 

"My choice hurt and confused many people. I regret the pain, confusion & distraction this caused. I humbly apologize for my mistake and error

Pastor Andy is expected to officially start as the new pastor of Saddleback church on 12th September.