Who decides a cult member's rank?
They aren't ranks like that, just marks of progress. Joe is the best at identifying how far we've come.
As cult leader, does Joe offer special perks and privileges to cult members who have attained more 'progress'?
We are not a cult, and Joe is more teacher than leader.
He doesn't offer 'perks and privileges,' we're here to learn. Those that grow more are capable of more, if you need a reward that is all there is. We are given the opportunity to teach others as well, because we can offer another's perspective as one who ascended more recently, but that's more of a responsibility than a privilege.
I admit as his wife you could argue I have a certain 'perk' but that's because of who I am, not the stage I've reached.
Lindsey