OHIO: An American pastor has sparked controversy after publicly introducing another woman as his second wife to his church congregation, with his first wife describing their relationship as a “polygynous marriage.”
Israel Ford, founder of LifeWorks Church in Cleveland, Ohio, reportedly presented the arrangement alongside his wife and co-pastor, Lydia Ford, during a church service on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The announcement has attracted attention online after Lydia introduced Minister Shakayla, a female minister familiar to members of the congregation, as her husband’s second wife and her “sister in marriage.”
According to a report by International Business Times, some members of the congregation clapped and cheered during the announcement, while others appeared surprised by the development.
During the church service, Lydia Ford addressed the congregation, explaining that the woman being introduced was already known to church members.
“Y’all know her. Y’all love her. Y’all benefit from her ministry every week,” she reportedly told the congregation.
She subsequently introduced Shakayla as the “Prophet’s wife and my sister in marriage,” confirming the relationship as a polygynous arrangement.
Lydia co-pastors LifeWorks Church with her husband, Israel Ford. The couple reportedly founded the church in 2009.
Shakayla, formerly known as Shakayla Talley, is also a minister associated with the church and now uses the Ford surname.
Following the announcement, Israel Ford took to social media to explain his position, defending the arrangement as a matter of religious conviction.
In a post introducing Shakayla publicly, the pastor challenged the widely held belief that marriage should involve only one wife.
“As a nation we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical,” Ford wrote.
He also acknowledged that some members and followers might disagree with his decision, stating that those who choose to distance themselves from him were free to do so.
Ford reportedly cited Exodus 21:10 to support his position. The biblical passage addresses a man’s obligations regarding the food, clothing and marital rights of a first wife when he takes another wife.
However, the passage does not explicitly command men to marry multiple wives.
Another biblical passage, 1 Timothy 3:2, states that a bishop must be “the husband of one wife,” a verse frequently discussed in Christian debates about marriage and church leadership.
Christian interpretations of these scriptures differ, particularly regarding whether biblical accounts and provisions concerning polygamy should be understood as permission, description or instruction for contemporary believers.
Ford indicated that he would provide a more detailed explanation of his position in a sermon expected to be uploaded later in the week.
The announcement has also drawn attention to the legal implications of polygamous relationships in the United States.
Ohio law prohibits bigamy under Section 2919.01 of the Ohio Revised Code, which addresses circumstances involving a person who marries or cohabits with another while already legally married.
However, the public announcement alone does not establish that a criminal offence has occurred. The available report does not establish whether the arrangement involved a legally recognised marriage, another form of religious union or circumstances that would meet the legal requirements for bigamy.
No legal action or official investigation was identified in the report.
The development has renewed conversations about marriage, religious interpretation, church leadership and the boundaries between personal faith and civil law.
Whether the announcement will affect the church’s membership or relationships within the congregation remains unclear.
For now, the pastor’s promised sermon may offer further insight into his interpretation of scripture and the reasoning behind the controversial marital arrangement.
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