CLERGY, ASSEMBLIES OF THE. — According to canonical provisions, the clergy of each diocese assemble under the leadership of the bishop in the diocesan synod (v.); bishops assemble in provincial, national, general, and ecumenical councils (v. COUNCIL). In the barbarian kingdoms of Spain and Gaul, the clergy gathered collegially with adult laymen on occasions of major decisions for the kingdom. During the feudal period, the clergy constituted one of the three estates into which society was divided and participated in assemblies convened for the benefit of the class and the entire community of provincial and national dioceses.
A particular character in the kingdom of France was held by the assemblies of the clergy, established following the Treaty of Poissy concluded at the Assembly of Poissy in 1561. To reduce to more reasonable proportions the exactions that the king imposed on clerical revenues, an assembly of bishops and clergy of the second order held in Melun in 1579 established that periodic meetings (the interval varied at times) of representatives of the clergy itself should be held; these were to include two bishops and two lower-ranking ecclesiastics elected for each province, and to decide on contributions that were thus considered as “free gifts.” They also periodically verified financial accounts. The assemblies of the clergy were convened by the king, who could also call extraordinary assemblies whenever he deemed necessary; thus, assemblies that in themselves had a purely financial task could also be called upon to address religious questions. This indeed occurred in 1682 when the famous Four Articles of the “Gallican Liberties” were issued by the assembly of the clergy. In this way, the king avoided convening councils, over which he could exercise far less sovereign authority. The last assembly of the clergy was held in 1788.