Term
Ecumenical Council
Also known as General council
A meeting of bishops and church authorities from the whole world to rule on Christian doctrine, administration, and discipline with the approval of the whole Church.
Filed underHistorical TheologyChurch History
Definition
Also called general council, is a meeting of bishops and other church authorities to consider and rule on questions of Christian doctrine, administration, discipline, and other matters in which those entitled to vote are convoked from the whole world (oikoumene, 'the inhabited world') and which secures the approbation of the whole Church.
Connections
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- Related to
- ConciliarismTerm
- Broader than
Last revised August 14, 2026