A Summary of my Views
The question over whether evolution is compatible with the accounts of creation given in the Bible, specifically the opening chapters of Genesis, is something that is asked by many Christian people these days. Although I don't believe it to be a particularly important question, there being many more issues that Christians should be more concerned with, it is something which I am frequently asked about. I will therefore take this opportunity to summarise my thinking on this issue.
I believe that the Bible is authoritative for Christian faith
The Bible is often described as the "Word of God", a term which I find unhelpful, by which it is usually understood that God was in some manner involved in the authorship of the various books therein and that this is what God wanted us to have as a guide for us. The books themselves are clearly written by human beings, showing the effects of the societies and background of the authors. The Bible describes itself as being "God breathed", by which I understand that God has given these words life that they may inform and guide all people no matter what society they're in.
The opening chapters of Genesis
I do not see how these can be seen as historical, let alone scientific, descriptions. They don't read that way, and to so read them requires what seems like some very convoluted interpretation of the text. There are, it seems to me, to be better ways of reading these texts. The primary purpose of these passages is theological; they provide a description of the creation as being entirely the work of one God, that it was created as God intended ("He saw that it was good"), that human beings have dignity and worth being made in the image of God, that humanity in exercising our free will rebelled against God which explains the less than perfect state of human affairs, and that God wants to be in relationship with people.
Belief that the Universe was created in 6 days within the past 10000 years or so is not essentially Christian
It is my opinion that belief in such a Creation is not fundamental to any Biblical teaching, and that it is a minor point of disagreement. Certainly belief in such a creation is a fairly recent interpretation of the text, and was not held by many of the great Christian teachers of the past (of all traditions, including evangelical).
I accept the scientific account of evolution
Having no reason to force the data to fit a 6 day creationist framework, I accept the scientific theories that the Universe is 10-15 billion years old, the Earth 4.5 billion years old and that life evolved through random mutation of DNA and survival of the fittest. I think that these offer the best explanation for the observations that have been made of the universe by astronomers, biologists and palaeontologists.
I believe that God has worked, and continues to work, through the natural processes of the Universe towards His ends, and as such the Universe is as much His Creation as it would be if it was formed in a 6 day period.