Patriarchal-Synodal Polity

Patriarchal-synodal polity is the church-polity form recorded in this atlas for families of self-governing churches led by patriarchs, who decide matters together in a synod rather than under one universal head. Wikipedia notes that the word synod also refers to the standing council of high-ranking bishops governing some of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, which is the arrangement this form describes. In this atlas the entity stands for the governance form itself, so denominations, religious orders and societies governed this way can be grouped and compared under it, while each member entry keeps its own governance facts and sources.