The exact meaning depends on the context. See below references.

Synonym = kyrkvallen (http://runeberg.org/display.pl?mode=facsimile&work=nfcf&page... ) The “sockenting” was originally held outdoors on church grounds (indoors if the weather was bad) by parish officials for the purpose of making decisions on affairs of common concern. (http://runeberg.org/display.pl?mode=facsimile&work=nfbo&page... It appears also to have served as a type of court in which some but not all peasants could have their cases heard. This type of court was in place by the time of the Swedish revolt of 1434-1436. (“Thus, the peasant's power lay in his number, the responsibility of vendetta, his right to juridical institution (sockenting, häradsting)…” (http://www.helsinki.fi/~ahl/tokasivu.html))
Nowadays, however, “sockenting” typically refers to a regularly held secular meeting, often for cultural rather than religious or administrative purposes. (hs-i.hush.se/attachments/87/2602.doc)