It seems to be a common theme in many religious institutions and groups - a small, select group of individuals setting themselves up as a "governing body" to control and manipulate followers according to their perceived interpretation of reality. We see it in other groups such as the Mormons, Christian Scientology, and, of course, older religions such as the Catholic Church.
I believe that the dynamics of such are not so much the apparent human desire to worship as it is the need by some to attain superiority and control over others. Those who seek to become part of such religious hierarchies at the top level are really opportunists filling an inevitable niche of power in human society.
Such hierarchies can exist only because they prey on people's innate fears of the unknown, namely death and the future. If it were not for being able to instill fear of punishment or hope of reward after one's death, then any such hierarchy could not exist because there would be no ability to control others, as there would be nothing to control, no perceived consequence of indifference to any religious system of belief.
The only reason people can be given such power is that they can succeed in convincing others of their so-called insight into authority ascribed to the "divine." I was quite impressed with something which I heard republican comedian Bill Maher say when being interviewed by Larry King: "I don't have any problem with God, I just have a problem with people who claim to speak for him."