Conciliarity is the adherence of various Christian communities to the authority of ecumenical councils and to synodal church governance.
Catholic doctrine does regard ecumenical councils as legitimate but extraordinary sources of authority.
The decisions of ecumenical councils, approved by the pope, are binding upon all the clergy and laity, subject to papal regulation.
Churches of the Eastern Orthodox communion view ecumenical councils as the supreme norm of government.
[citation needed] Protestant communities tend to deny or downplay the authority of ecumenical councils, though many do adhere to synodal government.