After Kozłowska died, Kowalski became head of the church.
He had been her closest associate, strongly influenced by her vision until her death.
The loyalty reserved for Kozłowska was transferred to Kowalski.
He became the main authority for the Mariavites.
He took several radical initiatives within the church to differentiate it further from Roman Catholicism.
His innovations have been described as far-reaching theologically and dogmatically as well as deeply liberalising.

The Mariavites' homepage summarizes Kowalski's reforms and innovations:
1922–1924 - Marriage available for priests
1922: Communion under the two species
1929: the Ordination of women, introduced in the Catholic Mariavite Church (with possibility of marriage)
1929–1935 Ordination of women, abolished in Old Catholic Mariavite Church (one reason for the schism in the church)
1930: Priesthood of the people of God similar to Protestant concept
1930: Eucharist for new-born baptized infants
1930: Removal of ecclesiastical titles
1930: Suppression of prerogatives of the clergy
1931–1933: Simplification of liturgical ceremonies
1931–1933: Simplification of the Lenten sacrifice
?:
Reduction of the Eucharistic fast
These innovations were controversial, not only to the Roman Catholics, but also to many of the Mariavites.
The introduction of marriages among priests and nuns (and sometimes between them) in 1924, and the priesthood of women in 1929, were the most disputed.
Kowalski's innovations disrupted the connection with the Old Catholics, who were then firmly opposed to the ordination of women.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Kowalski was seeking for an ecumenical dialogue with other churches.
Kowalski proposed union with the Polish National Catholic Church, and worked to deepen contacts with Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern-tradition churches.
In the early 1930s, he proposed a reconciliation with the Roman Catholic bishops.
None of these attempts succeeded.

The opposition against "the dictatorship" of Kowalski arose in the Mariavite Church in the 1930s.
In October 1934, the bishops and priests demanded changes to the teachings and rules of administration in the church, but Kowalski refused to make any changes.
In January 1935 the General Chapter of the Mariavite Priests (Synod) decided to remove Kowalski from his position.
Kowalski and his supporters refused to accept the decision of the General Chapter.
The church divided. (
Kozłowska had prophesied that the Mariavite Church would have a schism, as Christianity had earlier.
During this turbulent time, nearly 30 percent of adherents left the Mariavite Church and converted back to the Roman Catholic Church.
After Kozłowska died, Kowalski became head of the church. He had been her closest associate, strongly influenced by her vision until her death. The loyalty reserved for Kozłowska was transferred to Kowalski. He became the main authority for the Mariavites. He took several radical initiatives within the church to differentiate it further from Roman Catholicism. His innovations have been described as far-reaching theologically and dogmatically as well as deeply liberalising.
The Mariavites' homepage summarizes Kowalski's reforms and innovations:
1922–1924 - Marriage available for priests
1922: Communion under the two species
1929: the Ordination of women, introduced in the Catholic Mariavite Church (with possibility of marriage)
1929–1935 Ordination of women, abolished in Old Catholic Mariavite Church (one reason for the schism in the church)
1930: Priesthood of the people of God similar to Protestant concept
1930: Eucharist for new-born baptized infants
1930: Removal of ecclesiastical titles
1930: Suppression of prerogatives of the clergy
1931–1933: Simplification of liturgical ceremonies
1931–1933: Simplification of the Lenten sacrifice
?: Reduction of the Eucharistic fast
These innovations were controversial, not only to the Roman Catholics, but also to many of the Mariavites. The introduction of marriages among priests and nuns (and sometimes between them) in 1924, and the priesthood of women in 1929, were the most disputed. Kowalski's innovations disrupted the connection with the Old Catholics, who were then firmly opposed to the ordination of women. In the 1920s and 1930s, Kowalski was seeking for an ecumenical dialogue with other churches. Kowalski proposed union with the Polish National Catholic Church, and worked to deepen contacts with Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern-tradition churches. In the early 1930s, he proposed a reconciliation with the Roman Catholic bishops. None of these attempts succeeded.
The opposition against "the dictatorship" of Kowalski arose in the Mariavite Church in the 1930s. In October 1934, the bishops and priests demanded changes to the teachings and rules of administration in the church, but Kowalski refused to make any changes. In January 1935 the General Chapter of the Mariavite Priests (Synod) decided to remove Kowalski from his position. Kowalski and his supporters refused to accept the decision of the General Chapter. The church divided. (Kozłowska had prophesied that the Mariavite Church would have a schism, as Christianity had earlier. During this turbulent time, nearly 30 percent of adherents left the Mariavite Church and converted back to the Roman Catholic Church.
Mariavite Church