Synod

an -ssembly of ecclesiastics or other church delegates, convoked pursuant to the law of the church, for the discussion and decision of ecclesiastical affairs; ecclesiastical council.
any council.
contemporary examples

bartholomew said that he and francis wanted to leave the synod as a “legacy to ourselves and our successors.”
plotting nicea iii could be pope francis’s masterstroke candida moss june 7, 2014

this could easily refer to cardinal raymond burke, who became the anti-francis face of the synod on the family in october.
pope francis denounces the vatican elite’s ‘spiritual alzheimer’s’ barbie latza nadeau december 22, 2014

several bishops who presented the doc-ment to the press pointed out that not all synod fathers are happy with the softer tone.
catholic church says it’s ok to be gay, sort of barbie latza nadeau october 16, 2014

but make no mistake, the vatican synod paved the way for significant changes to come in the lives of gay and divorced catholics.
pope francis wins a battle to welcome gays in the church barbie latza nadeau october 19, 2014

this week the synod fathers will meet in small groups to discuss further each of the relatio points.
catholic church says it’s ok to be gay, sort of barbie latza nadeau october 16, 2014

criticism of francis has come to a head with the publication of the final report of the synod on the family.
is the pope catholic? critics rally around benedict as talk of schism looms candida moss, joel baden november 1, 2014

the ultra conservative pro-life voice of the family coalition immediately called the pirola talk “damaging” to the synod.
the vatican’s same-s-x synod: the bishops hear about reality. do they listen? barbie latza nadeau october 11, 2014

as the synod notes, “children are the real victims of family breakups.”
what’s the catholic church’s problem with couples without children? candida moss, joel baden october 25, 2014

the synod midterm report softened the tone on gays and divorced catholics; then the final doc-ment took a step back.
pope francis wins a battle to welcome gays in the church barbie latza nadeau october 19, 2014

denunciations by conservative catholic leaders must mean that the synod is doing something right!
pope francis pushes the church another step further on gays gene robinson october 15, 2014

noun
a local or special ecclesiastical council, esp of a diocese, formally convened to discuss ecclesiastical affairs
n.

late 14c., “ecclesiastical council,” from late latin synodus, from greek synodos “-ssembly, meeting, conjunction of planets,” from syn- “together” (see syn-) + hodos “a going, a way” (see cede). used by presbyterians for “-ssembly of ministers and other elders” from 1593 to c.1920, when replaced by general council.