Church council in controversy no doubt (5)

I believe the answer is:

synod

'church council' is the definition.
(type of church assembly)

'in controversy no doubt' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'SYNOD' is hidden in the letters of 'controversy no doubt'.

(Other definitions for synod that I've seen before include "Ecclesiastic council" , "Assembly of the clergy" , "Church assembly" , "Council of bishops" , "cloth gathered here" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Globe and Mail.

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