I get a smile on my face when I see your statement, Timothy, about serving in an "urban" environment. Not being very familiar with Iowa at all, I guess I have that stereotypical perspective of it being rolling hills and cornfields. I don't doubt that the characteristics of Sioux City fall into that classification (urban), but when I think of Iowa, even Des Moines doesn't bring to mind images of an urban environment. After having served in inner city St. Louis, just off Natural Bridge Rd. and St. Louis Avenue on the northside, and then by the Darst-Webbe housing project on Lafayette Ave. near the Soulard Market, "inner city" and "urban" create that image in my mind.
All kidding aside, though, a lot of seminary grads aren't really aiming for the urban church environment, either. When they talk about going back to the "city," they mean the burbs. Urban ministry isn't easy, either, and these days, those churches also wind up with young, inexperienced pastors.