When Going with the Flow Isn't Enough... Swim Upstream

by Mary Detweiler

Though tremendous legislative strides have been made regarding gender inequality in the United States, sexism still exists, and the Christian church has played a major role in maintaining its existence. This will change when and if individuals swim upstream against the status quo in their churches, refusing to let opposition stop them.
The stories of individuals who made significantcontributions to both the civil rights movement andthe women’s rights movement fill this book in thehope that their stories will encourage you to swimupstream against gender inequality in your church.

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2017

About the author

I love books. I love to read books. I love to write books. All of the books I have written were birthed in my own life experiences.

My writing journey began in 2005 when I started to write a book about how Celebrate Recovery had helped me overcome multiple hurts, habits and hang-ups I struggled with as a result of having grown up in an unhealthy family. It took me three years to write that book due to working full-time and parenting two teenagers. The result was When Therapy Isn’t Enough, published in 2008 by House to House Publications and in 2011 by Tate Publishing Company. My second book, When Religion Isn’t Enough, was published in 2012 by Tate and explains the difference between having religion and having a personal relationship with God. It also chronicles my journey from religion to relationship. I then wrote When the Glass Ceiling is Stained which was birthed in an experience I had in the fall of 2004 when I was removed from a church leadership position I firmly believed God had called me to. That book discusses the differences between ordination and anointing, as well as the differences between leading and managing. I also raise the following question: “Is Jesus the head of your church body or denomination? You may think he is, but is he really? How can you tell? The definitive mark of whether or not human beings are truly allowing Jesus to be the head of the church is when individuals who are gifted to lead, lead, and individuals who are gifted to preach, preach: regardless of their gender.” I decided to share that experience and the lessons I learned from that experience in the hope that other women who have been given the spiritual gift of leadership would benefit from it.

I served in leadership in various Celebrate Recovery ministries for 10 years. In 2013 I had both of my knees replaced (one in June and one in October) and stepped out of the Celebrate Recovery leadership role I was serving in at that time. Throughout the following winter (as my knees were healing) I waited on God to let me know what he wanted me to do next and wrote When Doing Isn’t Enough, published by Tate in 2015. In July 2014 God lit a fire in my heart to help his daughters be set free from belief systems and practices which reinforce the inequality of the sexes. In response to that fire being lit I wrote When Going with the Flow Isn’t Enough, incorporating much of Glass Ceiling into it.

As I worked with Tate Publishing Company during the publishing process of Doing, I saw a number of red flags which made me very uneasy about continuing my relationship with them. Therefore, as I was writing Going with the Flow, I began to look for another publishing company and found Credo House Publishers. Credo published Going with the Flow in 2017.

Another happening which occurred in 2017 is that Tate Publishing Company went bankrupt. Before they went out of business they offered to sell a print ready file of each of the author’s manuscripts to the author for a small fee. I purchased the print ready file for Doing and Credo re-published it. Glass Ceiling had already been incorporated into Going with the Flow, AND, I decided to write one new manuscript from my first two, Therapy and Religion. Though the new book is titled When Therapy Isn’t Enough, it is very different (and better if I do say so myself) than the earlier book of the same name.

Over the last few years, I have written When Success Isn't Enough, which discusses the differences and similarities between living a successful life and a purposeful life, and Do You Have an Exit Strategy? which outlines how to get right with God before you die. I have also written a 2nd edition of When Religion Isn't Enough, which is an expanded version of the first edition.

Reviews

[Kristy McMorlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected. The topic grabbed my interest: Gender Equality within The Church and I LOVED her statement: “Fighting for gender equality in the church is not about women’s rights or affirmation. It is about spiritual liberation.” I think the topic is spot on; but, the execution could have used more of a personal aspect to incite and inspire a following. Who doesn’t like to feel connected? Mary presented very little personal background and aided in my personal feelings of being bogged down with other people’s details. I received an interesting history lesson and felt It was an informative approach, without much entertainment and personal testimony; I’ve read two of her books and still know very little about her. In my opinion, she validates herself; instead, of allowing the reader to draw their own suppositions. She self-identifies as a whistleblower but could be perceives as a crusader; I desired to read how she’s overcame Gender Inequality. I looked for evidence, in her life, that she was able to gain equality to motivate the reader to also seek it. Mary recurrently stated her deductions but didn’t leave room for me to have my own conclusions; nonetheless, I found I was frequently expected to fill in the blanks. There appeared to be too many absolutes, and I struggle with people who tell me how I should feel and what I should do. But, that’s my baggage. I additionally concluded Mary feels all churches struggle with gender inequality, which isn’t true; I was shunned and now am embraced. I also was mystified why a book that was written to awaken women to fight for Gender Equality, within The Church, had a huge segment on the Disciple Peter? He’s a man. This book didn’t make my favorites list, because I wanted it to be a book that was hard to put down and impacted my life. I wanted it to change my point of view. I desired this book to engage me and linger in my thoughts. I hoped it would encourage and inspire me. It just didn’t. Perhaps it’s the style? She writes in a lecturer format and it’s not my genre; with the massive number of other people’s quotes the book lacked connection for me. I’ve read many self-help books and enjoy it immensely when the author shares more deeply from their personal walk. That’s my preference, it might not be others. If you like history and read other peoples comeback kid stories, not necessarily Mary’s, then I would recommend this book.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Unfortunately, the book seemed like a collection of loosely connected thoughts and random personal beliefs. There were many Bible quotes as well as quotes from other historical sources, but they were not pulled together or well explained.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a group of essays rather than a book with one theme. As with essays, some are better than others. Liked how the author extensively used bible verses but some of the essays really didn't go with the stated theme in my view.

[Brie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest.

I passed it on to my church-going mom who is feeling really out of sorts at church after the last 5 years. Hope it is helpful to her.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won through goodreads. This book was confusing to me. It was talking about one thing then flips to something else. It has stories about equality then flips to religion. Has some good parts.

[Stacy McRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author calls the reader to action with biblical and historical accounts of people who created change. A nice read.