Migrating Melodies, Migrating Spirituality: Initial Findings from a Slovenian Study of Contemporary Worship Music

The growth of Charismatic Christianity is arguably one of the most significant religious developments of the past century. Originating as a Protestant renewal movement in the United States, it expanded throughout the twentieth century, establishing Pentecostal churches, inspiring renewal movements within traditional denominations, and fundamentally reshaping Evangelical Christianity. While its theological and social features have been widely examined, the role of worship music remains a relatively understudied aspect of Charismatic life, despite its centrality in contemporary Christian practice. Situated within the framework of international migration and based on research in Slovenia, this article explores Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), particularly contemporary worship music (CWM), as a transnational vehicle of Charismatic and Evangelical Christianity. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and a qualitative analysis of a public database of translated songs, the study surveys CWM in Slovenia and discusses the homogenization of worship styles and the marginalization of local CWM production. The article concludes by reflecting on the notion of interdenominational homogenization in worship music.