Koyasan Shingon sect did not have the term of the chief priest, and it had a lifetime system, but when the chief priest leave his service due to old age or other reasons, he would be an apprentice in the temple where he used to serve.
高野山真言宗では住職には任期がなく、終身制を採っていたが、高齢などの理由で住職を辞した場合、辞した住職は、厳密にいうと身分上、その住職が務めていた寺院の徒弟となる。