NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An e-mail with a picture of House Speaker Kent Williams and Rep. Jason Mumpower praying together just before Williams voted with Democrats to become speaker of the House is creating controversy.

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The e-mail was sent to people on the Republican Executive Committee by Tim Rudd, a committee member, to remind people of what Williams did, he said. The caption compares Williams to Judas and compares the situation to what Judas did to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“He knew what he was doing while he was praying, and that upset me,” said Rudd. “It's bad enough just to lie, but to lie while you’re praying with your fellow friends, that just reminded me of the Last Supper and Jesus and Judas."

Some, including members of the Rutherford Democratic Party, are upset because they believe it portrays Mumpower as Jesus.

"Jesus died a horrible death on a cross. Jason Mumpower simply didn't get the speakership. There's a difference," said Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman Jonathon Fagan.

Rudd said that he compared Williams to Judas but not Mumpower to Jesus. He said Williams is a liar and a traitor and that he sent the e-mail to remind people in advance of Saturday's vote to decide whether Williams should be allowed back in the party.

The Republican Executive Committee meets Saturday in Nashville. While reinstating Williams is not on the agenda, there is a possibility someone could make motion to allow him back into the Republican Party.

Since he was tossed last spring, he has referred to himself as a Carter County Republican, but he can't currently run as a Republican on the ballot in 2010.