If you believe in the authority of Scripture (regardless of the details of how to interpret it), it seems hard to get away from reading Genesis and not come to the firm conclusion that God intended for humans to be created, even if it was through evolution or any other process. Because of that I find it hard to believe your account that no TE leader has ever answered your question…for example, a quick search on Francis Collins’ speeches turns up the following:
God’s plan included the mechanism of evolution. That was the way in which the marvelous diversity of living things on our planet was to come to be. And most especially, that plan included us, human beings.
By speaking of God’s plan, I think there is an affirmation that God governed the process to execute the plan, including the creation of all living things and human beings. Is this not explicit enough for you?