Well, in Buffy fandom people tend to suggest that Joss Whedon is the final authority, but that doesn't work because: a) they only do it when they can find a quote from Joss that supports their position; b) Joss flip-flops on his own position; c) Joss makes frequent and egregious errors; d) Joss lies.

A), of course, applies to church factions' use of Christ as well.

OTOH, I think that fandom works precisely because there is no authority; there is potential for a rich tapestry of varied viewpoints that can be examined and played with for as long as any particular fan can sustain imagination and interest.