I'd rise before clergyman or board member (8)
I believe the answer is:
director
'board member' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'i'd rise before clergyman' is the wordplay.
'rise' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'clergyman' becomes 'rector' (rector is a kind of clergyman).
'id' backwards is 'di'.
'di'+'rector'='DIRECTOR'
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for director that I've seen before include "Controller of production or member of a board" , "He makes films or runs companies" , "Managing board member" , "One who controls resources and expenditures" , "Boss posing as creditor" .)