As noted yesterday, completely unofficial.

Call to Order

Report of the Agenda Committee.

Looks like an aggressive agenda for the day.

Report of the Mandate Committee, 217 delegates. Up two from yesterday. Reporting on Mandates by Diocese. Oath will be given delegates not here yesterday.

Morning prayer. Reading from 1 Kings 3:7-15.

Report of Nominations Commission.

Clarification from yesterday’s post, there were five nominees for bishop, two declined, one was approved prior to Synod. Two were interviewed last night. They were both approved by the Committee. There are three nominees for the Office of Bishop. Vote on the report – accepted. (Electronic voting – very cool).

Note on the vote for the new Prime Bishop, all current bishops are eligible excepting those who will reach mandatory retirement age prior to the end of the eight year term of office.

Correction after roll call, 218 delegates.

Test vote – all ok.

Bishops Bigaj (Canadian Diocese), Mack (Auxiliary of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese), and Mikovsky (Central Diocese) accept the nomination to the Office of Prime Bishop. Bishop Kopka (Western Diocese) declines.

Each Prime Bishop nominee addresses the delegates for 10 minutes.

The Prime Bishop reads from the section of the Constitution on the Election of the Prime Bishop. A two-thirds majority is required. As more than two candidates stand. If after 5 votes no Bishop is elected, the two top vote getters will remain standing. Bishop Peplowski offers a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Bigaj graciously withdrew after the second ballot. No one elected after 15 ballots. The remaining candidates address the delegates for five minutes each.

After 25 ballots, no Bishop has been elected to the Office of Prime Bishop. The candidates readdress the Synod Body.

On the 42nd ballot Bishop Mikovsky has been elected to the Office of Prime Bishop.

The democratic Church in action. An emotional and wonderful moment.

Bishop Mikovsky, the Prime Bishop elect addresses the Synod. We are singing Sto Lat for him.

Break for lunch. Up next, election of candidates for Bishop. Three will stand for election, two to be selected

Reconvene.

Afternoon prayer, offered in petition for the continued action of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Polish National Catholic Church. Reading 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13.

NOTE: The Prime Bishop elect assumes Office as of new business.

Election of candidates for bishop. Reading from the Constitution on the election of bishop candidates. Those elected must have a two-thirds majority. Each candidate will have 5 minutes to address the delegates, and two further minutes thereafter.

The vote begins.

Very Rev. Paul Sobiechowski elected candidate to the Office of Bishop on the first ballot.

After 50 votes, a motion to end the election. Serious discussion.

The vote for candidates has been ended. The Supreme Council to meet. On break.

Reconvened.

Getting locations for Diocesan caucuses.

Report of the Prime Bishop, Most Rev. Robert Nemkovich. Many thanks and positive things to report — the generosity and hard work of the people and clergy of the PNCC. Thanks to his wife and family for their support and perseverance.

Sto Lat for the Prime Bishop. Move to accept his report with gratitude.

Report of the Diocesan Bishops, Buffalo-Pittsburgh, Canadian, Central, Eastern, Western.

Buf-Pit, incorporating a new parish (this weekend), three more have opened discussions with the PNCC. Great evangelism efforts. ‘Our local R.C Bishop excommunicates, I communicate.’. Two more parishes in Italy are exploring the PNCC. A group in France and another in Bavaria as well. A new parish in Norway near the arctic circle. We are known. Give hope to others. Pray for your Church, and set about growing. A lot of joyful news.

A delegate from one of the new parishes, Our Lady in Brandt NY, approached and offered an emotional thank you to the Diocese and the Church. You have given us our home, hope, and the presence of Jesus in our community.

Adjourn for the day and for caucuses later.

This will end my report from Synod. I must return home. Please continue to pray for our Holy Church and the Synod.