Console member of the clergy and senior politician (7,8)
I believe the answer is:
cabinet minister
'senior politician' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'console member of the clergy' is the wordplay.
'console' becomes 'cabinet' (synonyms).
'member of the clergy' becomes 'minister' (I've seen this before).
'cabinet'+'minister'='CABINET MINISTER'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for cabinet minister that I've seen before include "May perhaps" , "senior politician" , "high-ranking member?" , "member of government" , "went down to provide 22 24 [WHISKY GALORE] - with 17d" .)