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The synod (as well referred to as the council) occurs as council of the church, usually the Christian church, convened to decide an issue of doctrine or even administration. An ecumenical council is so known as because these are a synod of the completely church (or even, additional accurately, of what victims world health organization call for it assume to become the whole church.)
A word comes from either a Greek "synodos" meaning assembly, & these are synonymous by using a Latin word "concilium" - council. Originally synods were meetings of bishops, and is however utilized around this feel in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
Periodically a sentence general synod or even general council refers to an ecumenical council. A word synod besides refers to the standing council of high-high-level bishops governing a select few of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches.
Uses in different Communions
Roman Catholic and Orthodox usage
In the Roman Catholic & Orthodox churches, synods come composed of bishops. Power in the Roman Catholic Church is subordinate to it of the Pope.
Anglican usage
In the Anglican Communion, General Synods are elected by clergy & laity. Within virtually all Anglican churches, there is a geographical hierarchy of synods, with "General Synod" at the top; bishops, clergy & temporalty meet when "houses" inside a synod.
Lutheran usage
Around Lutheran traditions the synod may be either the local administrative region similar to a diocese, such as a Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or denote an entire church person, like a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Periodically the word is likewise utilized of the meeting of the priests of a bishopric. Around such example, a word carries there is no administrative meaning.
Presbyterian usage
Inside a bit of Presbyterian polities of church, a synod occurs as level of administration between a general assembly and the local presbytery. This applies in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Uniting Church in Australia, and a Presbyterian Church USA. A lot one were influenced in their constitution per Church of Scotland, which however dissolved its synods in the Eighties. Watch List of Church of Scotland synods and presbyteries.
Reformed usage
Within Swiss & Southern German Reformed churches in which a Reformed churches come organized when regionally defined independent churches (e.g. Reformed church of Zurich, Reformed church of Berne) a synod corresponds to the general assembly of Presbyterian churches.
Some ecumenical synods of note
Synod of Ancyra 314
Synod of Tyre and Jerusalem 335
Synod of Whitby 664
Cadaver Synod 897
Synod of Charroux, 989
Synod of Rathbreasail, 1111
Synod of Verona, 1184
Synod of Toulouse, 1229
Synod of Dordrecht 1618/1619
General Synod: Anglican churches
Holy Synod, Russia
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