Update: Not-so-socially-distant Detroit church service was taped before pandemic, pastor says

Straight Gate International Ministries on Sunday. (Photo: Facebook Live)

A not-so-socially distant Detroit church service streamed live on Facebook Sunday was recorded prior to the pandemic, the church's pastor tells Deadline Detroit.

The footage was aired Sunday in a Facebook livestream. The video said "live" in the top right corner and the caption described it as a "live Sunday Morning broadcast right from Straight Gate International Church."

Church Pastor Jonathan Merritt tells Deadine Detroit that the video was from about four years ago and that the church has not held a live service since March. He says the church takes the pandemic seriously and has been requiring social distancing and masks.

In the video, about two dozen singers and musicians performed on stage for several front pews packed with people.

The church did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Some metro Detroit churches have reopened with new restrictions. The Archdiocese, for example, mandates masks and distancing between parishioners.