Church councils (6)
I believe the answer is:
synods
'church councils' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for synods that I've seen before include "Councils attended by clergy to discuss policy" , "Councils of bishops" , "Council to discuss ecclesiastical business" , "Council meetings of clergy to discuss policy" , "Ecclesiastical councils" .)