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Episode 3: Male Spouses in Ministry
In this meaningful conversation, Debbie and Jill sit down with Chuck Sunburg and David Nicola—two men who share the unique experience of supporting their wives’ call to ministry.
As more women step into pastoral leadership, their husbands are navigating a role that few people talk about. Chuck and David share honestly about identity, sacrifice, faith, and what it looks like to faithfully walk beside a spouse’s calling without losing your own.
In this episode we explore:
🔹 Supporting a Called Spouse
Chuck shares how his wife Carla transitioned from nursing to becoming an ordained elder and now serving as a General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene, while David reflects on Gina’s journey from therapist to ordained pastor and community center leader.
🔹 Identity & Sacrifice
Both men talk openly about the decision to “decrease so she could increase,” stepping back from their own ministry paths in order to support their wives’ calling without resentment or ego.
🔹 Finding Your Place
David emphasizes the importance of male spouses discovering their own role in ministry—whether through worship, service, leadership, or support—rather than simply standing in the background.
🔹 Guarding What Matters
The conversation also explores the protective instinct that comes with watching your spouse face criticism, people walking out during sermons, and navigating assumptions about women in ministry leadership.
🔹 Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus
Chuck reminds us that the foundation of any ministry marriage is first being faithful followers of Christ—both individually and together.
This episode offers rare and honest insight into a growing reality in the church: supporting female pastoral leadership requires humility, intentionality, and a Kingdom-first perspective that goes beyond cultural expectations.
This episode may especially resonate with:
• Male spouses of ministry leaders
• Female pastors and their families
• Couples discerning a shared calling in ministry
• Anyone interested in the evolving role of women in church leadership

Thank you for being part of this conversation. If you have a question, story, or topic you'd love us to cover, email us at besideeverycalling@gmail.com

Table Talk Questions
1. What part of Chuck and David’s story resonated most with you?
2. How can couples better support one another’s calling without losing their own identity?
3. What challenges do ministry spouses uniquely face that people outside ministry may not see?
4. What does it look like to “decrease so another can increase” in a healthy way?
5. How can churches better support both women in ministry and their families?