There are numerous religious groups where there are these figure heads and then basicly people devote their lives to doing whatever the figure head says

I can not comprehend why someone would knowingly choose to join such a group

Mormons
Roman Catholics
Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox

Jewish chief Rabbis

Bahaii's and the Universal House of justice

Such and such baptist, lutheran, methodist or Presbyterian convention with voting

Anglicans and the English Monarchy