5 Across

NYT Daily • August 5, 2025

Church assembly

Answer:

SYNOD

Hint:

["Think of a gathering that religious leaders attend to discuss important matters."]

Explanation:

"Church assembly" refers to a formal gathering of clergy or church officials, which is called a synod. The word comes from Greek roots meaning "meeting" or "council," often used in Christian traditions for decision-making or discussion. There’s no hidden wordplay here—it’s a straightforward definition where the clue directly describes the answer. If you’ve heard of church councils or bishop meetings, that’s the idea.