Synod

A synod is an ecclesiastical governing or advisory council of a church, usually bishops convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application; an assembly of the clergy and sometimes also the laity in a diocese or other division of a particular Church; a Presbyterian ecclesiastical court above the presbyteries and subject to the General Assembly. The word synod comes from the Greek σύνοδος (sýnodos) meaning "assembly" or "meeting", and it is synonymous with the Latin word concilium meaning "council".

Synonyms: · legislative assembly · legislature · parliament · congress · senate · council · assembly · committee · convocation · conclave