The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SYNODS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result SYNODS
- In cycling tourists do NY state councils
- We hear wickedness has the advantage in church councils
- Clerical bodies pronounce agreements, ignoring answer
- Sally, disheartened, shows agreement in church councils
- See people at these formal gatherings?
- Yes! Approval among ship’s councils
- Scotland Yard initially acknowledges courts
- Councils approving signs on Surrey’s borders
- Extremely shyly signifies approval in church meetings
- Religious councils‘ chance of doing wrong in hearing?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "church meetings" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case church meetings = synods.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SYNODS mean?
SYNODS noun- An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
- An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
- A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.