Therefore a religious leader initially records a drama (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
soap opera
'drama' is the definition.
(type of TV drama)
'therefore a religious leader initially records a' is the wordplay.
'therefore' becomes 'so'.
'religious leader' becomes 'pope'.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'records' is 'r'.
'so'+'a'+'pope'+'r'+'a'='SOAP-OPERA'
(Other definitions for soap opera that I've seen before include "Fair City or Coronation Street, say" , "A dramatic broadcast" , "Serialised programme" , "TV programme" , "addictive programme?" .)