Suzii Paynter

Suzii Paynter 

Susan (Suzii) Paynter is the Director of the Christian Life Commission, Baptist General Convention of Texas speaking to Texas Baptists on a wide range of issues related to ethics and public policy. Suzii was recently awarded the Distinguished Service to Social Welfare award from the North American Association of Christians in Social Work and has been recognized the Texas Department on Aging and Disability, Capitol Inside, Texans Standing Tall, (advocates to prevent underage drinking) and the AARP. She is an active member of coalitions and interfaith efforts to affect legislation and policy.

Suzii has served in leadership in many Baptist groups and institutions, including Baylor Alumni Association. Currently, Suzii serves on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council, Texas Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and is a recent board member and officer of the Baptist Joint Committee, Washington D.C., Religious Liberty Council, Washington D.C. and Whittsett Baptist Heritage Society. In the Austin community, Mrs. Paynter has served as President of the Samaritan Counseling Center Austin and is a board member of Texas Impact and the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas.  

For 25 years Mrs. Paynter served as a national literacy professional, professor and consultant. In her role as an educational leader, she advocated in state and federal policy to provide systemic remedies for hard to teach populations. Previously on the faculty at Stephen F. Austin University and Baylor University, she has been an advocate literacy and early intervention for high-risk children and for religious liberty issues. She is married to Dr. Roger Paynter, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Austin where Suzii is a frequent teacher and ordained deacon. Mrs. Paynter is a native of San Antonio Texas, graduate of Baylor, the University of Louisville and Stephen F. Austin University. Suzii and Roger are the parents of adult children, Grayson and Mary Kathryn.