CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- John Romano and Jim Wilbourne were the first couple to have a public gay marriage at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte in April 2016.

"To be able to do it at our church, both of our parents were there, all of our family and friends and church members...it was fantastic," Romano said.

Jim Wilbourne explained it was important for them to get married in that specific church because it's where he's been practicing his faith for a long time. He said he has been going there nearly 20 years and that it is his family church.

Although, not everyone was happy with this decision.

"The [global] United Methodist Church has been arguing about this in serious ways for decades," First United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Valerie Rosenquist said.

This is why United Methodist bishops and worldwide leaders announced a proposal for a split. Leaders at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte say they made a decision several years ago to be a reconciling and inclusive church. That is the way they plan to remain. Other churches have the option to split, and form a separate denomination.

Church leaders say the separating traditionalist group, who don't want LGBTQ policies, would get $25 million in United Methodist funds and would keep its local church properties.

"This is a solution that allows everybody to separate amicably and to go forward with their theological beliefs intact," Rosenquist said.

The hope is to please both sides and put decades of conflict at rest.

The United Methodist proposal still requires approval by the 2020 general conference. That final vote is expected to happen in May. Read the full release here.