At the beginning of the emerging church conversation, it wasn't a fully formed movement.
There weren't the emerging books, blogs, white papers, and open letters that there are today.
There were, however several dynamic, intelligent, and motivated leaders who were tired of the discrepancy they saw between popular worldview (postmodernism) and the theologies and methodologies of the (decidedly Modern) evangelical church.
Some of these disgruntled leaders looked to the past, the distant past, in search for answers.
Many joined the "Ancient/Future Faith" movement in which leaders tried to get back to early church philosophy and practices.
Some adopted (and adapted) old rituals such as prayer labyrinths and contemplation.
Others reverted to high church practices (confession, communion, living in community) in an effort to rediscover the meaning in those traditions that may have been lost over time.
New monasticism was born.
Religious art and symbolism were integrated into worship, which, of course, was done by candlelight.
Looking back to go forward continues to be a common thread among "emerging" churches.
The rise in popularity of what was considered archaic- Reformation theology, Biblical scholarship, exegetical preaching, elder-rule, and complementarianism - are arguably the most common examples of finding the future in the past.
While leaders practicing this "vintage faith" may resist the label, they are "emerging" in that churches like this didn't exist twenty years ago.
Rampant modernism had rid evangelical churches or all but the most effective and efficient methodologies.
The integration of the old into the formation of the new is, in fact, a process of emerging.
Practices such as paying pastors, owning buildings, and doing "whatever works" to get people to come to church are being challenged by this emerging contingent of the church.
Though the quest of the retro/postmodern church is not simply to "get in touch with its roots," there is something to be said for the sense of identity that can be found in long-lasting traditions.
Contextualizing forgotten practices reminds the church that they have a heritage of affected people who have walked with God.
What is emerging from this process is a church that looks much like the early church found in Acts.
It might not sound all that progressive, but history will show this to be the cycle- the church thrives under marginalization, withers under freedom and popular acceptance, and then, through the obedient efforts of a generation of leaders, emerges again to relevance and subversive influence.
The emerging church isn't new at all- it's a shoot of that which was founded by Christ Himself.