Church council contributing to controversy, no doubt (5)
I believe the answer is:
synod
'church council' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'contributing to controversy no doubt' is the wordplay.
'contributing to' indicates a hidden word.
'SYNOD' is hidden within 'controversy no doubt'.
(Other definitions for synod that I've seen before include "Church assembly" , "Ecclesiastical assembly" , "Ecclesiastical gathering" , "Council of clergy to discuss policy" , "Clerical assembly" .)