I'd rise before clergyman or board member (8)
I believe the answer is:
director
'board member' is the definition.
(I know that board member can be written as director)
'i'd rise before clergyman' is the wordplay.
'rise' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'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" .)