A synod is a council of a church, usually a Christian church, convened to decide an issue of doctrine.

The word comes from the Greek "synodos" meaning assembly, and it is synonymous with the Latin word "concilium" - council.

Sometimes the phrase general synod or general council refers to an ecumenical council. The word synod also refers to the standing council of high-ranking bishops governing some of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches.

Some synods of note

Some councils of note See also: Ecumenical council