Cut church operation (4)
I believe the answer is:
chop
'cut' is the definition.
(chop is a kind of cut)
'church operation' is the wordplay.
'church' becomes 'ch' (common abbreviation).
'operation' becomes 'op'.
'ch'+'op'='CHOP'
(Other definitions for chop that I've seen before include "Piece of meat - the sack" , "Small cut of meat" , "Cut; slice of meat" , "Cutting blow" , "Cutlet" .)