synod

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos, “assembly, meeting”) – from σύν (sún, “with”) (English syn-) + ὁδός (hodós, “way, path”). Compare also with the term סַנְהֶדְרִין (“sunédrion”) common throughout Hebrew Talmudic literature.

noun

1. An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
2. An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
3. An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
4. (astronomy) A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.