A United States-based pastor, Israel Ford, has sparked controversy online after introducing a second wife and claiming that teaching monogamy is unbiblical.
Ford, who leads LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, announced his marriage to his second wife, Shakayla Ford, in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
In a video recorded at the church with his first wife, Lydia Ford, and Shakayla, the pastor defended his decision, stating that society’s insistence that a man marry only one wife contradicts biblical teachings.
“As a nation, we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical,” Ford wrote. “I understand that this is an unpopular truth that we have gotten away from, and many Pastors will not preach.”
Ford stated that he remains unbothered by potential public backlash or church members who might leave over his decision, adding that he prioritises religious revelation over pleasing people.
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