I do this as well. Normally though I'll assign my minions to an ally when I have to run back to the crystal.

Really? They will follow them around? I've tried this before and they will go to the spot where my ally was when I move/clicked on them with the minions assigned but then stopped there and wouldn't follow.

If you teleport they still come with you though?

That is really annoying, would be great if there was a switch for that.

Or... if your al teleport and would the priest still follow??? lol

Yes. Learn to monk split. 2 monks can't heal you twice anyway

Just make sure you click them, they will follow them around everywhere, though they are prone to tower suiciding. Also, if your tagged player gets a kill, you will typically get an assist, and your monk will also grind a small amount of XP / Gold for you. win-win. Your partner stays capped hp, can hold lanes better, better warscore... you get assists, slight xp/gold boost.

You lose nothing, really, except having to be very careful not to lose your only remaining monk...