The cathedral chapter elected him precentor in 1512; dean in 1517; and provost in 1521.

In the wake of the death of Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads, the cathedral chapter met on 27 March 1531 and elected Metzenhausen as the new Archbishop of Trier.

As archbishop, Metzenhausen opposed the Protestant movement, though he was generally conciliatory.

With the outbreak of the Münster Rebellion in 1534, Metzenhausen helped raise troops to defeat the Anabaptist uprising.

Metzenhausen died suddenly on 22 July 1540 while visiting Thanstein Castle, near Haguenau.