Timid person giving up time for spiritual leader (5)
I believe the answer is:
rabbi
'for spiritual leader' is the definition.
(Jewish teacher)
'timid person giving up time' is the wordplay.
'timid person' becomes 'rabbit'.
'giving up' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'rabbit' with 't' taken out is 'RABBI'.
(Other definitions for rabbi that I've seen before include "A Jewish scholar or synagogue leader" , "Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation" , "legal scholar" , "Jewish minister" , "Legal expert" .)