diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index 05ad1db..7b5a845 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -84,9 +84,22 @@ The architect module exposes two functions as it's main API.
 
 This function starts an architect config.  The return value is an `Architect` instance.  The optional callback will listen for both "error" and "ready" on the app object and report on which one happens first.
 
-### loadConfig(configPath)
+### loadConfig(configPathOrArray, [base], [callback])
 
-This is a sync function that loads a config file and parses all the plugins into a proper config object for use with `createApp`.  While this uses sync I/O all steps along the way are memoized and I/O only occurs on the first invocation.  It's safe to call this in an event loop provided a small set of configPaths are used.
+This is a sync function prepares the config object for each plugin.
+While this uses sync I/O all steps along the way are memoized and I/O only occurs on the first invocation.  It's safe to call this in an event loop provided a small set of configPaths are used.
+
+It can be used in one of two ways:
+
+#### loadConfig(configPath, [callback])
+
+Loads a config file and parses all the plugins into a proper config object for use with `createApp`.
+Base path of plugins is automatically detected from the base name of the path provided.
+
+#### loadConfig(configArray, base, [callback])
+
+Processes the existing config and adds the initialization function for each plugin present.
+Note that base is required when using this method.
 
 ## Class: Architect
 
@@ -105,4 +118,3 @@ When a plugin registers, this event is emitted.
 ### Event: "ready" (app)
 
 When all plugins are done, the "ready" event is emitted.  The value is the Architect instance itself.
-
diff --git a/architect.js b/architect.js
index 090b564..f023db2 100644
--- a/architect.js
+++ b/architect.js
@@ -26,8 +26,20 @@ if (typeof module === "object") (function () {
     // This is assumed to be used at startup and uses sync I/O as well as can
     // throw exceptions.  It loads and parses a config file.
     function loadConfig(configPath, callback) {
-      var config = require(configPath);
-      var base = dirname(configPath);
+      var config;
+      var base;
+      if ('string' === typeof configPath) {
+        config = require(configPath);
+        base = dirname(configPath);
+      } else if ('object' === typeof configPath) {
+        config = configPath;
+        if ('string' === typeof callback) {
+          base = callback;
+          callback = arguments[2];
+        }
+      } else {
+        throw new Error('Unexpected type for configPath (expected config object or string path)');
+      }
 
       return resolveConfig(config, base, callback);
     }
@@ -153,7 +165,7 @@ if (typeof module === "object") (function () {
                 }
                 else if (packagePath) {
                     next(null, dirname(packagePath));
-                } 
+                }
                 else {
                     resolvePackage(base, modulePath, next);
                 }
@@ -289,7 +301,7 @@ else (function () {
     function resolveConfig(config, base, callback, errback) {
         if (typeof base == "function")
             return resolveConfig(config, "", arguments[1], arguments[2]);
-        
+
         var paths = [], pluginIndexes = {};
         config.forEach(function (plugin, index) {
             // Shortcut where string is used for plugin without any options.
@@ -400,7 +412,7 @@ function checkCycles(config, lookup) {
                 unresolved[name] = false;
             });
         });
-        
+
         Object.keys(unresolved).forEach(function(name) {
             if (unresolved[name] === false)
                 delete unresolved[name];
@@ -425,7 +437,7 @@ function Architect(config) {
     app.config = config;
     app.packages = {};
     app.pluginToPackage = {};
-    
+
     var isAdditionalMode;
     var services = app.services = {
         hub: {
@@ -453,15 +465,15 @@ function Architect(config) {
                 imports[name] = services[name];
             });
         }
-        
+
         var m = /^plugins\/([^\/]+)|\/plugins\/[^\/]+\/([^\/]+)/.exec(plugin.packagePath);
         var packageName = m && (m[1] || m[2]);
         if (!app.packages[packageName]) app.packages[packageName] = [];
-        
+
         if (DEBUG) {
             recur++;
             plugin.setup(plugin, imports, register);
-            
+
             while (callnext && recur <= 1) {
                 callnext = false;
                 startPlugins(additional);
@@ -484,7 +496,7 @@ function Architect(config) {
                 recur--;
             }
         }
-        
+
         function register(err, provided) {
             if (err) { return app.emit("error", err); }
             plugin.provides.forEach(function (name) {
@@ -501,14 +513,14 @@ function Architect(config) {
                     isAdditionalMode: isAdditionalMode
                 };
                 app.packages[packageName].push(name);
-                
+
                 app.emit("service", name, services[name], plugin);
             });
             if (provided && provided.hasOwnProperty("onDestroy"))
                 destructors.push(provided.onDestroy);
 
             app.emit("plugin", plugin);
-            
+
             if (recur) return (callnext = true);
             startPlugins(additional);
         }
@@ -519,19 +531,19 @@ function Architect(config) {
 
     this.loadAdditionalPlugins = function(additionalConfig, callback){
         isAdditionalMode = true;
-        
+
         exports.resolveConfig(additionalConfig, function (err, additionalConfig) {
             if (err) return callback(err);
-            
+
             app.once(ready ? "ready-additional" : "ready", function(app){
                 callback(null, app);
             }); // What about error state?
-            
+
             // Check the config - hopefully this works
             var _sortedPlugins = checkConfig(additionalConfig, function(name){
                 return services[name];
             });
-            
+
             if (ready) {
                 sortedPlugins = _sortedPlugins;
                 // Start Loading additional plugins