j2ee spec and accessing resource (properties) files

[D. Alvarado]

Hello,
Is it a violation of the J2EE standard to access a resource file
from within a .war in which the resource file lies outside the .war?
If this is not a violation, how could this be done (e.g. could
ClassLoader.getResourceAsStream be of help?).

Some in my group would rather have a single .war file with an
adjustable .properties file outside rather than recompile the .war
with a different properties file.

Thanks for any advice, - Dave