David,
SAAOT is NOT a seminary (I didn't mean to use the word 'seminary' in my previous post) and is not acredited. They don't train priests. They have classes that probably are pretty decent, maybe have a lot of overlapping classes with a seminary. It was started by former EOC priests and has been around in some form or another (and location) since pre-Orthodox times. They come across as aspiring to be such, but either can't makeup their mind, don't want to or something else. That's why I say that I don't understand their point given their history, I'm at least slightly suspect of ulterior motives.
There's more I could say, but I don't want to gossip (and I'm indirectly involved a past scandal).
Of course, I'm still going to spend part of Thanksgiving with some of the people involved, but there is still a slight feel of discomfort.