Former NFL coach Tony Dungy responded to an Ohio pastor who publicly defended polygamy, citing Scripture to affirm the biblical teaching of marriage between one man and one woman.
Israel Ford, a leader at LifeWorks Church near Cleveland, introduced his second wife, Shakayla Ford, in an October 25 video alongside his first wife, Lydia. Ford defended the arrangement, referencing Exodus 21:10 and claiming that requiring monogamy is unbiblical.
On October 27, Dungy addressed the controversy on social media, pointing to Ephesians 5:31–32, which describes marriage as a union reflecting Christ and His church.
Dungy also referenced Jesus’ teaching against adultery in Mark 10:11 and emphasized that Christ has one bride, the church.
The controversy has raised questions about biblical marriage and pastoral accountability. First Timothy 3:2 establishes that church overseers must be above reproach and faithful to one wife, while Matthew 19:4–6 records Jesus affirming the marriage covenant established at creation.
