Synods are ecclesiastical council meetings held for discussing religious doctrines and disciplines within a specific denomination. There are various other words that can be used as synonyms for synods, such as convocation, council, assembly, conference, gathering, and conclave. These words bear a similar meaning and are used to describe the meeting of a group of people for a specific religious or spiritual purpose. While the term synod is commonly used in Christian denominations, other religions have their own variations of these assemblies, referred to as shuras, majlis, and assemblies, among others. Regardless of the term used, the fundamental purpose is to examine and address religious matters as a group.