The present invention provides a system and method for promoting a probationary member to a full member in a distributed system. A probationary member includes a process in a distributed system that is intended to be added or intended to replace an existing process in the system. Prior to adding or replacing the probationary member, the probationary member is evaluated based on criteria associated with context information related to the system. Based on the evaluation, the probationary member may be promoted to a full member of the system or eliminated from the system. Therefore, the present invention provides the opportunity to evaluate the probationary member in the system, prior to the probationary member being promoted to a full member of the system. Additionally, the probationary member may be added or replace an existing process in a single view change. Therefore, fault tolerance is maintained when the probationary member is replacing a mirror in a fault-tolerant distributed system.