Bishop Seth O. Lartey was born in Monrovia, Liberia (West Africa). He earned several degrees of higher learning from the following institutions, Liberia Theological Seminary of Monrovia, Liberia (Bachelor of Theology), Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina [Bachelor of Education], Duke University School of Divinity, Durham, North Carolina [Master in Religious Education], and Drew University, Madison, New Jersey [Doctor of Ministry].

Bishop Lartey is married to Jacqueline Inez Williams-Lartey and they are the very proud parents of three adult children, Solomon Benjamin Dorme, Alicia Elzera Amelia and Victoria Danielle
Kamaria Lartey.

Bishop Lartey pastored several churches in various conferences under the leadership of the late Bishops Ruben L. Speaks, Cecil Bishop and retired Bishop George W.C. Walker. His pastorates included St. Mathias A.M.E. Zion Church of the Liberia Annual Conference, Liberia, West Africa, Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church, Invitation A.M.E. Zion Church and Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church of the Cape Fear Annual Conference (Eastern N.C. Episcopal District) and Goler Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church (Piedmont Episcopal District). He serves as Chairperson of Zion ’s Benefit Services and First Vice-President of Church Growth and Development in the A.M.E.
Zion Church.

Bishop Lartey has served in the following capacities in the A.M.E. Zion Church as Episcopal Director of Leadership Education in the 6th Episcopal District which is known now as the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District and the Piedmont Episcopal District. He is the founder and former president of the Greene County Education and Enrichment Program, Snow Hill, North Carolina, The Educational Acceleration and Enrichment Program, Inc., Elizabethtown, North Carolina, The Goler Institute for Development and Education, Inc., and the Goler Community Development Corporation of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Bishop Lartey is a recipient of many honors and awards (i.e.Who’s Who, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Presidential Scholar, NAACP Presidential Award, Winston-Salem Chronicle Man of the Year, Order of the Long Leaf Pine of North Carolina, Honorary Doctorate from Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina, etc).

Bishop Lartey has served or is serving on boards both national and international: National Council of Churches, Churches United in Global Mission, United Way, Winston-Salem State University Foundation Board of Directors, Faith Partnerships, Trinity College and the A.M.E. Zion University of West Africa, Board of Trustees for Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC, former president of AFED Community Economic Development Corporation, Founder/CEO of  Next Generation Movement and 400 Years Celebration Inc., and many other boards.

Bishop Seth O. Lartey was elected the 100th Bishop in line of succession in July 2012 in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. His first assignment was the Western West African Episcopal District and he has historically become the first African native bishop to serve an
Episcopal area in the United States of America in the assignment of the Alabama-Florida Episcopal District. Upon arriving in Montgomery, Alabama, Bishop Lartey founded and organized the AFED Community Development Corporation. The following entities were birthed; Iron Sharpens Iron (one-million dollars grant was received for that entity), Special Family Health Program, Next Generation Movement and a Workforce Program. In August 2021 he was assigned as the Presiding Bishop of the Central Southern Africa Episcopal District which consist of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Bishop Lartey is an accomplished author and have published the following; Closing The Back Door of the Church (A 42 Day Plan To Stop the Exodus of New Members), and Overcoming Evil With Good. He is also a contributor to several publish articles.