Just follow the UNIX way. Many application/programs use the first config file they find, in the following order:
The one given as a command line argument.
The one given in an environment variable.
Fixed name in the current directory.
Fixed name in the users home directory.
One or more fixed paths (fixed paths can often be set at compile time).
Compiled in defaults.
Not all applications use all points, for instance, many applications will not look in the current directory (unless pointed to by the first two options) - but an editor like vi does.
I tend to follow that strategy myself as well when writing applications.