Fetching details from the dictionary...
founder of a religious sect
教祖が信者に教えを説いた。
The founder of the sect preached to the believers.
教祖が亡くなった後も教団は存続した。
Even after the founder died, the religious group continued.
彼はその新興宗教の教祖として崇められていた。
He was revered as the founder of the new religious sect.