“MONOGAMY IS UNBIBLICAL”: US PASTOR MARRIES SECOND WIFE

A United States-based pastor, Israel Ford, has sparked intense online controversy after introducing his second wife to his congregation and declaring that the belief that a man should have only one wife is unbiblical.

The announcement was made in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 25, 2026, accompanied by a video recorded at LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, where he stood with his first wife, Lydia Ford, and his new wife, Shakayla Ford, ValidViewNetwork reports .

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Ford was unequivocal in his declaration.

“I would like to introduce to the world, my second wife, Shakayla Ford!!!” he wrote. “As a nation we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical”.

He acknowledged that his position would be unpopular, even among fellow pastors.

“I encourage you to watch today’s sermon in its entirety (uploaded later this week). I understand that this is an unpopular truth that we have gotten away from and many Pastors will not preach,” he said .

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He stated that he would not bow to public opinion on the matter. “I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he stated .

He also dismissed the possibility of backlash from those who might reject his decision.

“People may not accept this and choose to disconnect, and that is ok! This life will be over soon, and we can all laugh about it in Heaven. Until then, God bless,” he said .

THE THEOLOGICAL DEFENCE

According to reports, Ford’s first wife, identified as Prophetess Lydia Ford, stood by his side during the announcement and introduced the second wife, stating that they had been privately married for three years.

Ford argued that polygamy is “divinely ordained” and that enforcing strict monogamy does not align with the full context of biblical history.

He reportedly cited Exodus 21:10, which states: “If he takes him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish” .

WHY IT MATTERS

Ford’s decision to publicly embrace polygamy and frame it as a biblical mandate is a significant departure from the teachings of most mainstream Christian denominations, which have long upheld monogamy as the biblical standard for marriage.

His announcement has reignited a theological debate about how scripture is interpreted and applied to modern Christian practice.

For many Christians, Ford’s position is not merely a personal choice but a public challenge to a core tenet of their faith.

The controversy also raises questions about the accountability of religious leaders and the boundaries between personal revelation and institutional doctrine.

Ford has made clear that he prioritises what he believes God has revealed to him over the expectations of his congregation or the broader Christian community.

For now, Ford remains defiant. His congregation faces a choice: accept his new marital arrangement or disconnect. And the debate over what the Bible actually teaches about marriage continues. ValidViewNetwork reports.