In New England. A church court or tribunal, having functions partly judicial andpartly advisory, appointed to determine questions relating to church discipline,orthodoxy, standing of ministers, controversies between ministers and their churches,differences and divisions in churches, and the like. Stearns v. First Parish, 21 Pick.(Mass.) 124; Sheldon v. Congregational Parish, 24 Pick. (Mass.) 281.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
