Israel Ford defends polygynous marriage in Ohio

Israel Ford, the pastor of LifeWorks Church in the Cleveland area, has sparked significant controversy after publicly announcing his polygynous marriage. During a church service on October 25, his first wife, Lydia Ford, introduced Minister Shakayla Ford to the congregation as her “sister in marriage.”

Ford has defended the arrangement by claiming that the traditional Christian mandate for monogamy is “unbiblical,” citing Exodus 21:10 to justify his decision. He argued that certain scriptural requirements for church leaders to have only one wife are cultural interpretations that should not apply to his specific leadership role. In a recent interview, Ford stated that while he could potentially welcome a third wife if he could afford it, his current wives are not permitted to take additional husbands, citing differing marital responsibilities between men and women.

The announcement has drawn criticism from various religious groups. The International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ issued a statement declaring polygamy unacceptable under its doctrine, warning leaders against redefining marriage based on personal or cultural interpretations. Additionally, critics have pointed to 1 Timothy 3:2 regarding the qualifications of church leadership. While the arrangement has been reportedly in place for nearly three years, it remains a subject of debate regarding both religious doctrine and Ohio law, which prohibits bigamy.